The biggest non-Olympic international basketball event will take place in 2023, as the Philippines get ready to host the FIBA World Cup, where Team USA will be sending a contingent of their brightest players.
A list of six players was announced yesterday as confirmations for the World Cup squad, with two more being added today. Brandon Ingram and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. will be representing Team USA as they look to improve on a dismal seventh-place finish in 2019.
ESPN Sources: Two Western Conference All-Star forwards — New Orleans' Brandon Ingram and Memphis' Jaren Jackson Jr., — are committed to play for Team USA's FIBA World Cup team this summer in the Philippines. USA Basketball plans to finalize a 12-man roster later this month.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 6, 2023
Ingram and Jackson are joining a team featuring Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, Austin Reaves, and Bobby Portis. Adebayo is the only player on this list that represented Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, while Austin Reaves switched over from Germany to represent the USA.
Team USA will play their first game of the tournament on August 26 against New Zealand. Their World Cup group also features Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s Greece and Jordan.
A New Era Of Team USA
Team USA has had some incredible teams over the years, but there’s been a gradual decline in available talent. This is mainly due to veteran stars in the league no longer representing Team USA at non-Olympic events. Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Draymond Green, and even Jayson Tatum, along with others were a part of the Olympics squad that won Gold but none of them are a part of the FIBA World Cup squad.
The crop of players representing the USA at the World Cup will likely form the core nucleus of Team USA going forward, with the stars of the last decade no longer in a position to carry them through. With increased international competitiveness, this World Cup will be a crucial indicator before teams pick their 2024 Olympic roster.
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