Category: USA Basketball

[USA Basketball]: Never Too Early LA 2028 Team Selection

Eric Creighton

Non-Patented, Non-Analytical Selection Strategy:

  1. Review the roster for 2024 Olympic squad and Select Team versus the team I chose in January 2024
  2. Review my eligibility requirements for roster spots
  3. Create list of top international opponents to keep in mind when constructing the roster
  4. Review top American NBA prospects, college prospects and high school prospects
  5. Separate out vet players who will be retired or not reliable to pick due to health concerns
  6. Choose the top 12 players for the roster, listing top alternates by position
  7. List the top candidates who don’t quite make the cut but will be ‘on call’ should injuries arise

2024 Team USA Roster for the Paris Olympics:

    • Bam Adebayo

    • Joel Embiid

    • Anthony Davis

    • LeBron James

    • Kevin Durant

    • Jayson Tatum

    • Jrue Holiday

    • Anthony Edwards

    • Derrick White

    • Steph Curry

    • Devin Booker

    • Tyrese Halliburton

 

2024 Team USA Select Team:

  • Cooper Flagg
  • Jalen Duren
  • Jabari Smith Jr.
  • Trey Murphy
  • Keegan Murray
  • Brandon Miller
  • Brandin Podziemski
  • Payton Pritchard
  • Jalen Suggs
  • Amen Thompson

 

My Paris Roster Picks in January 2024:

  • Joel Embiid
  • Bam Adebayo
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Kevin Durant
  • Paul George
  • LeBron James
  • (one of) Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, or Jimmy Butler
  • Steph Curry
  • Anthony Edwards
  • Kyrie Irving
  • Tyrese Haliburton

 

(My) Eligibility Requirements for Team USA roster:

    • Combination of size, strength, athleticism, shooting, and positional versatility

    • Clutch genes for crunch time heroics (break glass if needed)

    • High basketball IQ to be able to thrive with other players in Steve Kerr’s system

    • Two-way players only (whenever possible)

    • Healthy mix of battle-tested veterans and up-and-coming stars 

    • NBA championship AND Olympic (or Team USA) gold-medal winning experience

 

International opponents to keep in mind when constructing the Team USA roster:

France: Victor Wembanyama, Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, Bilal Coulibaly and Nolan Traore

Canada: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Zach Edey, Benn Mathurin, and RJ Barrett

Serbia: Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic 

Germany: Franz and Mo Wagner, and Dennis Schroder

Greece: Giannis Antetekounmpo 

Slovenia: Luka Doncic

Cameroon: Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam

Retired, Almost-Retired or Not Healthy Enough to Play:

  • Ja Morant – always worried about his health due to his small frame and high-flying drives to the hoo–and for the time being it’s hard not to be worried about his maturity level.
  • Jalen Brunson/Mikal Bridges – after the next four years of 90-100 games per year at 42-48 minutes per game playing for Tom Thibodeau, I highly doubt that either of these two will be up for playing in LA, assuming they are even healthy enough to consider.
  • Kevin Durant – could opt to play at age 39
  • Steph Curry – could opt to play at age 40–that other-wordly shooting will not go away with age.
  • Anthony Davis – could opt to play at age 35, especially since it will be in front of LA fans
  • LeBron James – assuming he’s retired in 2 years.
  • Klay Thompson 
  • Draymond Green
  • DeMar DeRozan
  • Kawhi Leonard
  • James Harden
  • Jimmy Butler
  • Kyrie Irving
  • Damian Lillard
  • Bradley Beal
  • Paul George
  • Donovan Mitchell

 

Not a Great Fit for International Play:

  • Jaylen Brown – his annoyance and now resentment of Team USA and Grant Hill may be just as well, because his game doesn’t translate so well to international play with less spacing. 
  • Trae Young – too defensively challenged to be a part of this team, even though we all know (and enjoy) his offensive gifts.
  • Evan Mobley – unfortunately, bigs who are non-shooters are not worth considering since they’ll ruin our spacing. His shot may improve as soon as this year, but I can’t guarantee that and would definitely opt for Chet and Bam.
  • Scottie Barnes – it’s tough for him to have an impact with less spacing and I don’t trust his shooting as much as some do. His playmaking is solid and I do love that length on D, but will have to pass.

 

Team USA Roster for the 2028 Olympics:

BIGS

[Disclaimer: if Anthony Davis (35) or Joel Embiid (34) wants to play then one of them can replace either Flagg or Dybantsa. Odds of the two vets both being healthy and willing to play in 2028 are slim)

Bam Adebayo (31) – veteran big who can guard inside and out with an evolving jumper, high motor and a ferocious edge on the boards. Will be undersized at times but besides facing Jokic, Team USA should be able to work around that.

Chet Holmgren (26) – versatile big who can protect the rim, shoot from the outside, rebound, and make it tough on Wemby when we face off against France. Will be battle-tested in the playoffs over the next few years of Thunder playoff basketball.

(Alternates: Donovan Clingan, Derek Lively: tough choices here, as Clingan would help provide elite rim protection, set big screens, and guard guys like Jokic with some success. I’m banking on this team successfully utilizing Tatum, Banchero and Flagg as centers, as needed.)

—————————————————————————————————————–

WINGS

[Disclaimer: if Kevin Durant (39) wants to play then he can replace Flagg or Dybantsa)

Jayson Tatum (30) – left the 2024 Olympics with a bad taste in his mouth after not getting much PT from Steve Kerr, but will be a headliner of this team which will make it tough to turn down the invitation. Plus, Spoelstra will take over so it won’t feel like a repeat of Paris. Tatum can play on or off the ball and is an elite defender and rebounder with legit strength. Has positional versatility to play center. 

Paolo Banchero (25) – elite offensive game that will keep evolving and could be almost unstoppable in four years. Will be battle-tested in the playoffs over the next few years of Magic playoff basketball. Has positional versatility to play center. 

Jalen “J-Dub” Williams (27) – perfect connective piece for this team who can do a little of everything on  or off the ball. Valuable offensive versatility will be valuable too, as he can play point guard or wing and guard 1 through 4. Will be battle-tested in the playoffs over the next few years of Thunder playoff basketball. 

Cooper Flagg (21) – consensus #1 pick in 2024 draft, USA basketball experience, super high motor with KG-level intensity, elite defender with an evolving offensive game. Too early for him to be included? Yes. But….he’s just too good to exclude. He can be one of the two guys who play 5-10 minutes a game for a spark of energy and athleticism–plus he provides optionality at center.

AJ Dybantsa (21) – consensus #1 pick in 2025 draft, with USA basketball experience, incredible athleticism. Can play on or off the ball, with excellent shot creation, and is an underrated defender with both speed and length. Too early for him to be included? Yes. But….he is also too good to exclude. He can be one of the two guys who play 5-10 minutes a game for a spark of energy and athleticism.

Note: remember too, there is a precedent for Team USA adding generational talents to the roster–see LeBron (19) in 2004. They have also added very young but uber-talented and physically gifted lottery picks in past years, such as: 1996 team: Grant Hill (23); 2000 team: Vince Carter (23); 2004 team: Carmelo (20); 2008 team: Dwight Howard (22); 2012 team: Anthony Davis (19), Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (23), James Harden (22); 2021: Jayson Tatum (23).

Trey Murphy (28) – underrated defender with great length, and a knock-down three point shooter. Perfect off-the-ball scorer for this group who will help to open up space for everyone else.

(Alternates: Jabari Smith Jr., Brandon Miller, : Jabari should be really good by 2028 and would be an excellent swiss army knife type of guy who could thrive in international play. Miller will be tough to stop in 2028 but seems duplicative with Tatum and Banchero who win out due to seniority.)

—————————————————————————————————————–

GUARDS

[Disclaimer: if Steph Curry (40) wants to play then he can replace LaMelo)

Devin Booker (31) – no-brainer to invite him back and let him step up as more of a primary scorer. He’s highly skilled, feisty on D and will be ready to lead the way to another gold.

Anthony Edwards (27) – automatic invite as Ant should be one of the top five players in the league by 2028. Letting him go to work along with Booker, Tatum and Banchero should give this team plenty of offensive creation.

Cade Cunningham (26) – I had a real tough time choosing between Cade and Haliburton, but in the end, I think Cade will hold up better on D, provide more leadership and a calming presence in the half court offense, and also can perform in the clutch. He is a do-it-all player that can be slotted into the same role as LeBron played in Paris–as a big point guard who is focused on making others better.

LaMelo Ball (26) – everyone seems to have forgotten about Ball, but if he can stay healthy and the revamped Hornets ownership/front office can create something stable and functional then he’s going to seem a lot more attractive in 3-4 years. Yes, Haliburton, Fox, Morant, or Brunson may seem better today, but from that group, only Ball and Hali are true point guards. Plus, LaMelo has more size and is more dynamic than Hali. He’ll make everyone else better while giving the team scoring, as needed. This team needs to defend, rebound and get out in transition and Ball could make them unstoppable on the break. Is he good enough on D? He can hold up when he chooses to.

(Alternates: Tyrese Haliburton (28), Jalen Suggs, Reed Sheppard, Desmond Bane, Amen Thompson: Very tough choices for guards. I came so close to choosing Haliburton over LaMelo, as I feel like he brings great energy to a team and can hit shots and make others better. But, I opted for the riskier LaMelo. Both LaMelo and Hali get injured quite a bit, so in the end, it may come down to who has had a better run of health leading up to the LA Games. One of Sheppard, Bane or Suggs may be a better option as a a two-way player that could provide lock down on-ball D a la Jrue Holiday/Derrick White in 2024. If Amen’s shot comes around he may be too hard to pass up. 

Not going to make the cut….but should keep their schedule clear and bags packed just in case the phone rings last minute:

  • Donovan Clingan
  • Jaren Jackson Jr.
  • Dereck Lively
  • Jabari Smith Jr.
  • Jalen Johnson
  • Cameron Boozer
  • Koa Peet
  • Jaime Jaquez Jr.
  • Brandon Miller
  • Keegan Murray
  • Devin Vassell
  • Jalen Suggs
  • Desmond Bane
  • Austin Reaves
  • Brandin Podziemski
  • Tyrese Haliburton
  • Dylan Harper
  • Trent Perry
  • Ausar and Amen Thompson 
  • De’Aaron Fox
  • Darius Garland
  • Tyrese Maxey
  • Stephon Castle
  • Reed Sheppard

——————————————————

Other great 2028 Team USA roster selection consumables:

8/12 Game Theory podcast with Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon

Predicting USA Basketball’s next Olympics men’s roster for 2028 Los Angeles Games – Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation

8/12 Jeff Goodman’s roster picks on Twitter

Can USA Basketball mend fences with Jayson Tatum, rely on younger talent for L.A. 2028? – Joe Vardon/The Athletic

Predicting the 2028 Olympic men’s basketball roster – Kevin Pelton/ESPN

What will the Team USA men’s basketball roster look like at the 2028 LA Olympics? – Ben Rohrbach/Yahoo Sports
 
 

[USA Basketball]: Paris 2024 Team Selection (updated 2/28)

Eric Creighton

Non-Patented, Non-Analytical Selection Strategy:

  1. Review roster for 2021 Olympic squad
  2. Review roster from 2023 World Cup team
  3. Revise and review (my) eligibility requirements for roster spots
  4. Create list of top international opponents to keep in mind when constructing the roster
  5. Review my April 2023 picks for the 2024 roster
  6. Narrow down list based on who is likely to participate
  7. Finalize team invitation list (including a ‘next up’ list)

2021 Team USA Tokyo Olympics Roster: (gold medal)

Bam Adebayo
Kevin Love
JaVale McGee
Kevin Durant
Jerami Grant
Draymond Green
Keldon Johnson
Khris Middleton
Jayson Tatum
Bradley Beal
Devin Booker
Zach LaVine
Damian Lillard
Jrue Holiday

2023 Team USA World Cup Roster: (4th place finish)

Paolo Banchero
Mikal Bridges
Jalen Brunson
Anthony Edwards
Tyrese Haliburton
Josh Hart
Brandon Ingram
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Cam Johnson
Walker Kessler
Bobby Portis
Austin Reaves

(My) Eligibility Requirements for Team USA roster:

  • Combination of size, strength, athleticism, shooting, and positional versatility
  • Clutch genes for crunch time heroics (break glass if needed)
  • High basketball IQ to be able to thrive with other players in Steve Kerr’s system
  • Two-way players only (if possible)
  • Healthy mix of battle-tested veterans and up-and-coming stars was what I had hoped for in 2023 in order to pass the torch to the next generation of superstars, but after a disastrous 4th place finish in the World Cup we’ll need to bring our NBA A-Listers to try and ensure gold in Paris.
  • NBA championship AND Olympic (gold-medal winning) experience

International opponents to keep in mind when constructing the Team USA roster:

Australia: Josh Giddey, Josh Green, Dyson Daniels/Ben Simmons?!

Canada: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, Benn Mathurin, RJ Barrett,Dillon Brooks/Andrew Wiggins

Croatia: Bojan Bogdanovic,Dario Saric/Ivica Zubac

France: Rudy Gobert,Victor Wembanyama!, Nic Batum, Evan Fournier, Bilal Coulibaly

Finland: Lauri Markkanen

Germany: Franz and Mo Wagner, Dennis Schroder, Daniel Theis

Greece: Giannis Antetekounmpo and the Antetekounmpo 5

Latvia: Kristaps Porzingis/Davis Bertans

Lithuania: Domantis Sabonis, Jonas Valaniunas

Serbia: Nikola Jokic, Bogdan Bogdanovic

Slovenia: Luka Doncic

Turkey: Alperen Sengun, Furkan Korkmaz, Omer Yurtseven

And let’s not forget the rosters for Spain and Argentina!

The roster I had envisioned after going through this exercise back in April 2023…

BIGS*

Bam Adebayo

Brook Lopez

Bigs honorable mention: Jaren Jackson Jr., Jarrett Allen, Myles Turner

*Note: Joel Embiid looked doubtful to commit to Team USA in April 2023 so I made it clear we needed to try hard to convince him, but I wouldn’t pick the roster assuming he’d be a part of it

FORWARDS

Jayson Tatum

Brandon Ingram

Evan Mobley

Jimmy Butler

Mikal Bridges

Forwards honorable mention: Cade Cunningham, Paul George, Kyle Kuzma, Scottie Barnes, and Jalen Williams

GUARDS

Steph Curry

Anthony Edwards

De’Aaron Fox

Devin Booker

Damian Lillard

Guards honorable mention: LaMelo Ball, Darius Garland, Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Haliburton

Probably won’t participate, and why:

Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard – both of these two are chronically injured or recovering from injury, yet somehow managing to play a ton of minutes this season in a desperate push for their teams to make deep playoff runs. Will LeBron make AD go? Will Kawhi’s back-alley medical team give the green light?

Jimmy Butler – The Heat typically go on deep playoff runs and Butler has already been battling nagging injuries this year. One thing we know, if he has anything left in the tank, he’ll try to go to Paris and compete, no questions asked.

Ja Morant – recovering from a torn labrum and a disastrous season, Ja will need to recover, rest up, and make sure he’s 100% healthy for the start of next season to get the Grizzlies back on track.

Jrue Holiday – tempting to consider him for the roster after the clinic he put on in Tokyo, but after a long playoff run with the Celtics that extends into June, he’ll most likely want some recovery time.

Damian Lillard – this one is questionable, since we know Lillard never backs down from a challenge. But I opted to put him in this category because of the heavy burden he has to carry this season for the Bucks who have little depth at guard. If the Bucks can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals or Finals, I think it will be a bit too much wear and tear to make the trip (but it may be the Bucks and his agents that have to stop him from trying to go anyway).

Who is interested in playing:

Back in October 2023, LeBron started an uproar amongst American players when he said he was ready to go the Olympics and urged others to join him. This tweet summarized who expressed interest:

But sadly, we can only bring 12 players, and most from this tweet will not make the cut.

2024 Team USA Invites for Paris Olympics:

BIGS

Joel Embiid – HUGE W by Team USA to secure his services over France and Cameroon! He could be the piece that ensure gold for this team based on the timing of these Olympics matching up perfectly with the peak of his dominance.

Bam Adebayo – will be needed to bang with the big bodies, rebound, and provide versatile D. A bit undersized to play some international big guys height-wise, but will make up for it with toughness and effort, as always. A small part of me wanted to give this backup big spot to Chet due to his ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim.

FORWARDS

Jayson Tatum – having had experience in international play plus being at the age where he is entering his prime years, Tatum will give this team whatever they need on or off the ball and defensively. With all this star power, he’ll blend right in, and his size and length will be helpful, as always.

Kevin Durant – getting a bit older but managing to stay healthy. The Suns uneven season may mean he can rest up before the Olympics or it could mean they make a run and he’s pretty burned out. With a roster this stacked, if he can play 15 minutes a game for Team USA, it’s well worth having him there. As a living legend and leader who knows the path to capture gold, he will be invaluable.

Paul George – having a great season and staying healthy so far! If the Clippers manage to make a deep playoff run will he be energized to go to Paris or demoralized and exhausted if they don’t make it out of the West? Time will tell, but if he’s ready to go, then his positional versatility, shot-making, and D would be a huge help to this team.

Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler or Anthony Davis – whoever is actually healthy and game to go! Any of these three would be great to have as all-world forwards with lots of big game experience. One could argue that AD would be even better than Bam as big for this roster, but I lumped him into this category of the “maybe not too likely to participate due to injuries/injury recovery.” If PG, LeBron or KD are hurt or Tatum is exhausted from a championship run, maybe two of these three end up going to Paris. Butler and Leonard look like they could have deep playoff runs, so we’ll have to wait and see what impact that has on their decisions. Of the three, Kawhi would be first choice after the season he’s been having.

LeBron James – playing a lot of minutes this season to make a playoff push, but maybe that tails off if the Lakers inconsistent play continues. He’s shown that he has plenty left in the tank to contribute on and off the ball. Another Dream Team-type player who is so legendary that it will intimidate opponents–and always nice to have as a big option at point guard. Side note: by July, will he have already left LA to play with Bronny in Cleveland or Miami?

GUARDS

Steph Curry – after what is shaping up to be a very disappointing season for the W’s, Steph will be ready to unleash holy hell on the international stage with this group of vet teammates egging him on. His legend status in the basketball universe will make him a Dream Team-like distraction to other teams, and as always his gravity changes the game on offense.

Devin Booker – practically unguardable these days once he gets going, Booker’s shooting and playmaking will blend perfectly with this group. Plus, his clutch gene may come in handy for close end-of-game situations.

Anthony Edwards – just as everyone had hoped, Ant has blossomed into the go-to-guy on the Wolves, leading them to best team in the West status for the first time ever. He proved in the World Cup that he could be a dependable offensive players and provide some lockdown D when needed. Playing a bit more off-ball with this group, he will be devastating.

Tyrese Halliburton – another call-back from the World Cup team. Hali is Hali in the NBA or on the international stage. He lifts everyone with his love for the game and then makes everyone’s lives easier with pin point passing, and very few turnovers.

Kyrie Irving – as long as he ends the season healthy and is game to go to Paris, it would be a great luxury to have him. He’s obviously a big-game player who won’t be intimidated by any situation. Similar to the Dream Team, Kyrie’s other-worldly ball-handling and offensive creativity is so legendary at this point, he’ll be distracting other teams who want selfies and jersey swaps with him before the games even tip off.

Next up (i.e. keep your schedule clear and your bags packed just in case the phone rings last minute):

Playmaking, Swiss Army knife guard/wings: Cade Cunningham or Scottie Barnes or Jalen Williams

Big wings who can make a defensive impact: Paolo Banchero (next in line to take PG/Kawhi’s spot on the 1st team) or Aaron Gordon or Mikal Bridges

Elite scorers: Donovan Mitchell. Desmond Bane or Damian Lillard

Fast, highly-skilled guards: Trae Young, De’Aaron Fox or Ja Morant or LaMelo Ball

Rim protecting big with offensive versatility: Chet Holmgren

Not quite ready, but keeping an eye on them:

Tyrese Maxey

Darius Garland

Evan Mobley

Keegan Murray

Austin Reaves

Devin Vassell

Jalen Duren

Ausar and Amen Thompson

Won’t make the cut for this team:

DeMar DeRozan

Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jerami Grant

Bradley Beal

Jaylen Brown

Khris Middleton

Julius Randle

Brook Lopez

Draymond Green

Derrick White

Zion Williamson

Brandon Ingram

Kyle Kuzma

Myles Turner

Klay Thompson

Jalen Brunson

Zach LaVine

Fran VanVleet

Jabari Smith

Alex Caruso

[USA Basketball]: Never Too Early Team Selection Brainstorm

Eric CreightonLeave a comment
USA Basketball gold medal winning squad from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics

Non-Patented, Non-Analytical Selection Strategy:

  1. Review roster for 2021 Olympic squad to refresh memory
  2. Create list of top international opponents to keep in mind when constructing roster
  3. List and analyze player pool by position
  4. Narrow down list based on who is likely to participate, who is recently/chronically injured, current contract status, motivation to play (again or for the first time after being snubbed previously)
  5. Finalize team invitation list (including 2nd team/practice squad)

2021 Team USA Roster:

Bam Adebayo
Kevin Love*
JaVale McGee**
Kevin Durant
Jerami Grant
Draymond Green
Keldon Johnson**
Khris Middleton
Jayson Tatum
Bradley Beal*
Devin Booker
Zach LaVine
Damian Lillard
Jrue Holiday

* = Bradley Beal and Kevin Love did not participate in the Tokyo Olympics
** = Keldon Johnson and JaVale McGee replaced Beal and Love

2021 Select Team Roster:

Saddiq Bey 
Miles Bridges
Anthony Edwards 
Tyrese Haliburton
Tyler Herro 
Keldon Johnson 
Josh Magette 
Dakota Mathias 
Immanuel Quickley 
Naz Reid 
Cam Reynolds 
Isaiah Stewart
Obi Toppin
P.J. Washington
Patrick Williams 
John Jenkins
Darius Garland

Funny how just a short amount of time changes perception a lot. In 2023, Zach LaVine, Draymond Green and Jerami Grant would probably not be top candidates to be selected again. And JaVale McGee and Keldon Johnson would not be candidates at all for the roster. Looking at the Select Team roster, only Edwards, Haliburton, and maybe Quickley would be considered this time around. With Grant Hill and Steve Kerr taking over for Jerry Colangelo and Coach K, it’s time for a roster overhaul, especially with so much young talent in the league.

Eligibility Requirements for Team USA roster:

  • Combination of size, strength, athleticism, shooting, and positional versatility
  • Clutch genes for crunch time heroics (if needed)
  • High basketball IQ to be able to thrive with other players in Steve Kerr’s system
  • Two-way players only (if possible)
  • Healthy mix of battled-tested veterans + up-and-coming stars
  • NBA championship AND Olympic gold experience

International opponents to keep in mind when constructing Team USA roster:

Luka Doncic
Joel Embiid (France or US or Cameroon?)
Franz Wagner
Giannis Antetekounmpo
Josh Giddey/Patty Mills
Rudy Gobert/Victor Wembanyama!
Niokola Jokic
Lauri Markkanen
Rosters for Spain and Argentina (as always)
Domantis Sabonis
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander/Benn Mathurin/RJ Barrett – Team Canada on the rise!

Player Pool/Invite possibilities:

BIGS
Jarrett Allen – maybe
Karl Anthony Towns – plays for Dominican Republic
Bam Adebayo – yes
Mitchell Robinson – no
Robert Williams – no
Joel Embiid – yes
DeAndre Ayton – maybe
Jaren Jackson Jr. – yes
Myles Turner – yes
Nic Claxton – no
Brook Lopez -yes
Onyeka Okongwu – not yet
Wendell Carter – maybe

FORWADS
Jayson Tatum -yes
John Collins – no
De’Andre Hunter – no
Evan Mobley – yes
Julius Randle – no
Mikal Bridges – yes
Paul George -maybe
Kyle Kuzma – maybe
Keldon Johnson – no
Jimmy butler – yes
Jerami Grant – maybe
Paulo Banchero – will play for Italy
Aaron Gordon – no
Jalen Williams – maybe
Brandon Ingram – yes
Jarred Vanderbilt – intriguing
Cam Johnson – no
Dorian Finney-Smith – no
Jeremy Sochan – will play for Poland
Jabari Smith – not yet
Trey Murphy – not yet
Keegan Murray – not yet

GUARDS
Anthony Edwards – yes
Devin Vassell – intriguing
Cade Cunningham – yes
Jordan Poole – no
Steph Curry – yes
Jaylen Brown – maybe
James Harden – maybe
Donovan Mitchell – yes
Jalen Brunson – yes
Jrue Holiday – yes
Tyrese Maxey – no
LaMelo Ball – yes
Bradley Beal – maybe
Tyler Herro – no
Ja Morant – maybe
Desmond Bane – yes
De’Aaron Fox – yes
Trae Young – maybe
Scottie Barnes – maybe
Zach Lavine – maybe
Scoot Henderson – not yet
DeMar DeRozan – yes
Darius Garland – yes
Devin Booker – yes
Tyrese Haliburton – yes
Dejounte Murray – maybe
Josh Hart – no
Jaden Ivey – not yet
Damian Lillard – yes

Recently (or chronically) injured:

Anthony Davis
Brandon Ingram
Cade Cunningham
Chris Paul
Kawhi Leonard
Kevin Durant
Khris Middleton
Klay Thompson
Jimmy Butler
Lebron James
Paul George
Robert Williams
Zion Williamson

Probably won’t participate, and why?

Anthony Davis – super injury prone, on ice for next season
Zion Williamson – super injury prone, on ice for TNT broadcast team
Robert Williams – super injury prone, on ice for next season
Paul George – vet after deep playoff run/injury prone
Kawhi Leonard – vet after deep playoff run/injury prone
Cade Cunningham – recovering after missing most of the season + Pistons have ‘plans’ for next season
Lebron James – injured foot needs to heal, doing billionaire things, visiting colleges with Bronny
Chris Paul – vet after deep playoff run, always working on healing up
DeMar DeRozan – played a ton of minutes just to make play-in
Zach LaVine – played a ton of minutes just to make play-in
Draymond Green – played a ton of minutes just to survive in the West
Kevin Durant – wild card/not likely to play, vet after deep playoff run (they hope!)
Khris Middleton – vet after deep playoff run/healing from injuries
Klay Thompson – vet after deep playoff run
James Harden – vet after deep playoff run
DeAndre Ayton – would need to apply for US citizenship to be eligible
Kyrie Irving – free agent

‘Probably won’t participate, buuuut maybe they would?!’ wild cards:

Damian Lillard – likely to play — after being shut down early for Blazers. Playing with Steph in the backcourt maybe something he can’t pass up.

Jimmy Butler– likely to play — rarely turns down an opportunity to battle (or travel) and will be working out like a MF’er anyway, so why not go to Paris.

Kevin Durant – not likely to play — recovering from injuries during the season + what he hopes will be a long playoff run. On the other hand, he was injured for 30+ games this season which resulted in less wear and tear. Plus, just like Carmelo in past years, he loves playing for Team USA.

Joel Embiid – not likely to play — injury prone + deep playoff run + may play for France or Cameroon. No doubt the USA would happily take him if he’s willing to go to play for them. Makes little sense to play for France unless he wants to play 4 with Gobert a Center and Wemby at the 3.

Ja Morant – not likely to play — off court issues + Memphis can’t risk him getting injured. On the other hand, maybe his agent/PR team/Nike would urge him to do it in order to repair his reputation.

Jrue Holiday – not likely to play — vet after deep playoff run + played a lot of minutes this season to keep Bucks as one of the top teams in the league amidst all the continued Middleton instability.

Not a great fit for international play:

Julius Randle – average defense + a bit of a ball stopper

Trae Young – Shooting and shot creation, but no D

Tyler Herro – Streaky shooting and average D

Jordan Poole – Shooting and shot creation, but no D

Nic Claxton – too slim to battle with international bigs

James Harden – experienced, physical guard, but big minus on defense

IOU’s

Bradley Beal – he was invited in 2021 but went into safety protocols right before the team left for Japan forcing him to miss the entire Olympics. Unfortunately, many other guards have passed him in the pecking order since then, due to him missing time with various injuries + a chronically underachieving Wizards organization.

Team USA Invites:

BIGS

Bam Adebayo – combines all-world defense with excellent shooting, passing, and reliable free throw shooting. He’ll anchor the D and get out and run on offense, beating lumbering bigs up the court all day long.

Brook Lopez – with his impressive play this season for the Bucks, it’s perfect timing for him to be on the roster. He’ll bring toughness, veteran leadership and an inside-outside, two way presence that will be valuable.

Bigs honorable mention: Jaren Jackson Jr., Jarrett Allen, Myles Turner

FORWARDS

Jayson Tatum – no-brainer selection for his elite shot creation and defense. Tatum is an incredibly versatile and, many times, dominant two-way player that will be tough for any country to try and shut down.

Brandon Ingram – despite running into injury issues in recent years, but when healthy, Ingram has proven he can carry a team offensively, creating shots, setting up teammates, and using his length to torture the other team on D.

Evan Mobley – some may say it’s a bit too early for Mobley to be included, but his rebounding, elite defense and ability to blend in with various lineups as a a supportive piece will be incredibly helpful. He’ll provide rim protection and clog up passing lanes on D, and then beat his man down court on the break for easy baskets.

Jimmy Butler – toughness, leadership, work ethic, and culture-reinforcing awesomeness, along with an uncanny ability to get to the line, Jimmy can do anything the teams needs at a variety of positions.

Mikal Bridges – despite being less of an elite scorer than a Donovan Mitchell or Jaylen Brown, Bridges is Mr. Reliable in terms of availability, has the size, speed, length and athleticism to impact the game on both ends, and has shown to be a more versatile scorer as a Brooklyn Net. He’ll be important connective tissue for the team which, as we know, is always important to have.

Forwards honorable mention: Cade Cunningham, Paul George, Kyle Kuzma, Scottie Barnes, and Jalen Williams

GUARDS

Steph Curry – if Steph wants to play, Steph will play! This legendary shooter will strike fear in any opposing team and his gravity will open everything up for his teammates. He’ll also help to bridge the communication/connection between the new roster and Steve Kerr which will fast track the team chemistry.

Anthony Edwards – still needs to mature more, but has shown a lot this year leading the Wolves to a respectable record despite not having KAT in the lineup. His combo of size, speed, and shot-making will be unstoppable in international play. And without needing to carry the offensive load, he can exert more energy on defense where he has shown to be formidable.

De’Aaron Fox – proved a lot this season co-leading the Kings to the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. He improved his 3-point shooting and lost bulk from last season which has helped him reclaim his elite speed. His mojo will be at an all-time high after the global support for the Kings playoff run which will pair nicely with his emergence as one of the most clutch players in the game.

Devin Booker – another no-brainer pick at guard. Booker would have been a top-5 MVP candidate this season if it wasn’t for injury issues. Lights out shooting, toughness, experience, and his clutch gene will all prove invaluable.

Damian Lillard – we always wanted to see a Lillard/Steph backcourt in a high stakes series, stretching defenses to distances that would seem unthinkable if not for their all-world range. Lillard was incredible this season and will be a strong veteran leader and clutch scorer that will help unite everyone.

Guards honorable mention: LaMelo Ball, Darius Garland, Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Haliburton

Alternate Invites and/or Select Team Players:

Goals of inviting:

  • To get some of these guys into camp and feel like part of the Team USA mission
  • To have elite guys ready for call-up if someone bails or gets injured
  • To develop young stars who will be asked to step in for future Olympics

Myles Turner
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Kyle Kuzma
Scottie Barnes
Jalen Williams
Jaylen Brown

Cade Cunningham
Donovan Mitchell
Tyrese Haliburton
Desmond Bane

Oh, and IF Embiid has any interest in playing for Team USA, then he is more than welcome to come win a gold medal with us!

[via Adweek.com]

Key Dates/Links:

2023 FIBA World Cup – Phillipines/Japan/Indonesia – August 25 – September 10

2024 Summer Olympics – Paris, France – July 26, 2024 – August 11

5/30 Update from Joe Vardon/The Athletic — Team USA releases preseason schedule ahead of 2023 FIBA World Cup:

USA Basketball will begin its 2023 preseason schedule in Las Vegas against Puerto Rico, the Americans announced this morning. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Team USA’s will play an exhibition against the Puerto Rico at 10 p.m. ET on August 7, at T-Mobile Arena, to conclude training camp for the FIBA World Cup.
  • The USA will then travel to Spain and the United Arab Emirates before arriving at the Cup in the Philippines.
  • Team USA will face Luka Doncic and Slovenia in Spain, as well as the No. 1-ranked Spain team.