- The second day of training camp for the FIBA World Cup saw the team take on the Select Team
- The World Cup team was surprisingly beaten in the first two open scrimmages by the Select Team
- Kyrie Irving says the World Cup team needs to be given time to gel
Training camp for Team USA for the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup is underway and Friday saw the team take on the USA Select Team, which comprised of the likes of Chet Holmgren and Cade Cunningham, in scrimmages. It is tradition for the team participating in a big tournament to gear up for it in this manner.
In what was a bit of a surprise though, the Select Team managed to get the better of the World Cup team in each of the first two open scrimmages. As social media started to get on the World Cup team, Kyrie Irving had a message for everyone.
“It happens, it’s part of the game when everybody is trying to find a role and earn playing time. You gotta give the guys on the World Cup team time to gel and get to know each other’s game. Don’t overreach with this post.”
It Happens, it’s part of the game when everybody is trying to find a role and earn playing time. You Gotta give the guys on the World Cup team time to Gel and get to know each others game.
Don’t over reach with this post.
Hélà
🤞🏾♾🪶 https://t.co/mr1WQ3RQdB
— Kyrie🤞🏾 (@KyrieIrving) August 4, 2023
We must make it clear that this isn’t a very big deal. For starters, Team USA was experimenting with various combinations, and head coach Steve Kerr wasn’t exactly treating this like an actual game.
There is precedent for this happening in the past as well. The 1992 Dream Team famously lost a scrimmage to college players and we all know what happened when the real games began. This current team is obviously nowhere near as good as the Dream Team but as Kyrie said, they must be given some time to gel and with time, they’ll get better.
Cade Cunningham Shone For The Select Team
Of all the players at this scrimmage, Cade Cunningham was certainly one that many would have had their eye on. The first overall pick from the 2021 NBA Draft had only played 12 games last season as he underwent season-ending surgery in December to repair a stress fracture in his left shin. These scrimmages were the first time Cunningham would be seen in action since then and he was the most impressive player as per Ben Golliver.
There were a number of standouts for the USA Select team today.
– Pistons’ Cade Cunningham was at the top of the list pic.twitter.com/oqlc8s3k67
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 4, 2023
Cunningham averaged 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks in the 2022-23 campaign before being ruled out. The 21-year-old thankfully seems fully healthy now and will be eyeing a big season with the Detroit Pistons.
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