The United States is the great force in world basketball. Their talents are unmatched, and their ability to win as a national team is almost as good.
The World Cup in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines is their latest attempt to recapture a trophy that eluded them, in a resounding way that highlighted their shortcomings, at the last event in China.
However, their squad leaves more doubts than certainties, with the absence of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
There are young talents and the team concept has yet to prove itself. They are fully aware of that, and it is the most important thing in a tournament like this.
Even more so when Anthony Edwards, Paolo Banchero… will be tested against other projects such as Cunningham, Holmgren…
Because the list headed by Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets) and Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic) will be tested throughout the preparation by an alternative call-up orchestrated by USA Basketball.
Full of talents, many with a place in the starting line-up.
Under the direction of Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, the so-called USA Select Team will meet the starting line-up at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas training facility, and may even travel to Abu Dhabi with them.
The USA Select Team
USA Select Team
- Cade Cunningham (Base, Detroit Pistons)
- Jalen Green (Base, Houston Rockets)
- Quentin Grimes (Escolta, New York Knicks)
- Payton Pritchard (Escolta, Boston Celtics)
- Keegan Murphy (Alero, Sacramento Kings)
- Trey Murphy (Alero, New Orleans Pelicans)
- Jalen Williams (Alero, Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Chet Holmgren (Pívot, Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Naz Reid (Pívot, Minnesota Timberwolves)
It is reminiscent, to a certain extent, of those kids who beat the 1992 Dream Team led by Chris Webber, Allan Houston and Penny Hardaway in a memorable training camp game.
The confirmed players are led by Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham. No.1 in the NBA Draft, but injured last season.
He was in Steve Kerr‘s draft picks, but chose to recover from shin splints in his left leg. He scored 19.9 points per game in his 12 appearances last season.
Joining him as another future star is unicorn Chet Holmgren. He missed last season when he got injured in a summer game after being taken second overall in the 2022 Draft after Paolo Banchero.
But he has unmatched height, handling and feel in the Summer League with the Thunder. He has 16.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and more than three blocks.
Next to him, Jalen Green, another top-3 pick in the Draft and noted for his physicality, scoring ability and leadership in the Rockets, Keegan Murray, a good shooter in the Sacramento Kings Playoffs, Payton Pritchard, present in the Celtics rotation, or two physical prototypes of ‘first’ as Jalen Williams (Thunder) and Trey Murphy (New Orleans Pelicans).
The 1992 ‘match-up’ is a thing of the past. The 2023 game is not supposed to, but it will measure, to some extent, what we can expect from a United States team without its stars. A loss could change many pre-World Cup betting odds.