Miami Hurricane. NBA Champion. And now, Olympian.

It’s something Davon Reed never dreamed of as a kid but will become a reality when he suits up for the Puerto Rican national team at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

“I never even thought of playing in the Olympics, but it was always something that I watched growing up,” Reed said. “I don’t even know how to put it into words, but it’s more than anything I could have ever imagined.”

Reed, a four-year letterwinner at Miami from 2013-17, helped Puerto Rico to a 4-0 record in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico to clinch the final spot in this year’s Games.

Puerto Rico tallied wins over Bahrain and Italy in the group phase, defeated Mexico in the semi-finals and knocked off Lithuania, 79-68, in the final to end a 20-year Olympic drought for the country.

“It’s amazing to be part of an Olympic team, period, but even more for a program that hasn’t qualified in 20 years,” Reed said. “I really enjoyed being a part of history and I’m really looking forward to helping this team go further.”

For Reed, playing for the Puerto Rican national team has not only provided him the chance to compete on the world stage, but also the opportunity to connect to his Puerto Rican roots.

While Reed grew up in Ewing, N.J., his grandfather was born and raised in Puerto Rico.

“I’ve been able to learn more about my heritage and exactly where my grandfather was from, which has been amazing,” Reed said. “Getting to represent my heritage is something that is so special to me.”

Reed and the rest of the Puerto Rican national team will open the Olympics against South Sudan on Sunday.

Puerto Rico is part of Group C, which will provide Reed with a sort of reunion tour as he will face not only some of the best players in the world, but also some of his former professional teammates such as LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers, 2023) and Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers, 2023) on Team USA, Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets, 2021-23) on Serbia and Wenyen Gabriel (Los Angeles Lakers, 2023) on South Sudan, among others.

But Reed’s preparation for the Olympics began long before this week.

“When I first found out that I would have the opportunity to make the national team, I started preparing my mind for this,” Reed said. “Then prior to coming to Puerto Rico, I went to Phoenix to work with my long-time trainer out there to prepare my body for these moments. I am absolutely ready and very excited.”

Reed will not only have the support of the entire country of Puerto Rico this weekend but will also have some of his family members cheering him on in the stands as his mother, fiancée and younger brother will all be in attendance.

It is a moment Reed will surely never forget and one he won’t take for granted and when asked how it feels to be able to call himself an Olympian, Reed’s response was simple.

“Blessed.”