The United States Men’s Basketball Team has a lot to prove at the 2023 FIBA World Cup after a humiliating seventh-place finish at the 2019 edition. The first round of commitments for the team shows some bright stars will be ready for this edition.
The Athletic has reported that Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Austin Reaves, Bobby Portis, and Tyrese Haliburton have committed to playing for their nation, the Philippines, this offseason.
Commitment doesn’t mean all these players will definitely be included in the squad but it shows the pool that USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill, coach Steve Kerr, and general manager Sean Ford have available to choose from. More commitments are likely to be announced as June goes on.
Austin Reaves was expected to commit to Germany after heavy recruitment but chose to try and represent Team USA instead.
Will Team USA Falter Again?
Stars like Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and other players on the Tokyo Olympics’ roster are unlikely to make themselves available, which means the team will be relatively young and full of players unfamiliar with FIBA rules. This was a struggle for the 2019 team as well, led by Kemba Walker and Tatum.
The competition around the world is at its highest level in years. France, Australia, and Spain can legitimately compete with Team USA, as it has shown in recent years. There are other dangerous nations like Serbia and Slovenia, in teams constructed around one primary star like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. This won’t be an easy run, even with the caliber of players available.
Team USA will play their first game of the tournament on August 26 against New Zealand. There World Cup group also features Greece and Jordan.
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