Crew USA’s roster for the approaching FIBA International Cup within the Philippines is starting to take form, and it’s going to come with no less than two emerging NBA stars making their American nationwide crew debut.
Minnesota Timberwolves All-Celebrity Anthony Edwards, Los Angeles Lakers capturing guard Austin Reaves, Brooklyn Nets wing Mikal Bridges, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Milwaukee Greenbacks ahead Bobby Portis have dedicated to play for Crew USA, league resources advised The Athletic.
The 12-man roster, being compiled via USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill, trainer Steve Kerr and normal supervisor Sean Ford isn’t but whole, and the American crew has no longer introduced any confirmations it has won.
Edwards, who will flip 22 years outdated all through Crew USA’s coaching camp in early August, averaged 24.6 issues, 5.8 rebounds and four.4 assists this season for the Timberwolves and made his first All-Celebrity crew. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound capturing guard, who used to be the No. 1 select of the 2020 NBA Draft, used to be a member of the United States make a choice crew (a gaggle that practices towards the nationwide crew) for the Tokyo Olympics.
Reaves, 25, had a breakout season for the Lakers this yr, averaging 13.0 issues and capturing just about 40 p.c from 3-point vary. He performed a outstanding function within the Lakers’ marvel run to the Western Convention finals.
Reaves used to be even higher within the playoffs, averaging 16.9 issues and capturing 44 p.c from deep. At 6-foot-5 and a reliable defender, Reaves (and Edwards, for that subject, who’s a 37 p.c shooter from 3) have compatibility the mildew of the type of guards Crew USA has begun to prioritize in those high-level world competitions the place larger guards who can cling their very own defensively and shoot from deep are treasured.
Portis, 28, is an eight-year NBA vet and flexible giant guy off the Greenbacks’ bench. A equivalent function is most likely on Crew USA. Portis averaged 14.1 issues and 9.6 rebounds this season and used to be into consideration for 6th Guy of the Yr.
Crew USA begins coaching camp Aug. 3 in Las Vegas, performs its first exhibition sport Aug. 7 towards Puerto Rico after which embarks on a two-week barnstorming shuttle to Spain and the United Emirates earlier than starting International Cup play Aug. 26 towards New Zealand.
That is the primary International Cup-Olympics cycle for Hill and Kerr of their respective positions. Hill is succeeding Jerry Colangelo as managing director. Kerr used to be an assistant beneath Gregg Popovich at the previous two American groups.
Whilst the American citizens are four-time protecting Olympic gold medalists in males’s basketball, the remaining International Cup used to be, via USAB requirements, a crisis. Crew USA misplaced two times in 2019 in China and completed in 7th — the worst end in program historical past.
(Photograph: Alonzo Adams / USA Nowadays)
