By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The 12 players that will compile the roster of Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup were announced Thursday (6/7). The squad includes such players as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.
Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero is also on the team after opting to play with USA in international competitions instead of Italy.
Team USA will look to bounce back and compete for the gold medal after finishing at an all-time-low seventh place in the 2019 World Championship.
Per USA Basketball:
USA Basketball today announced the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, which will compete at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup Aug. 25-Sept. 10 in Manila.
The 2023 USA Men’s National Team includes Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Josh Hart (Knicks), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Cameron Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks) and Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers).
“On behalf of USA Basketball, I’m thrilled to introduce the 2023 USA Men’s National Team, which features some of basketball’s brightest talent,” said Grant Hill, USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director. “We are excited for the challenges ahead and look forward to the opportunity to compete at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup. I am confident that working together, and under the leadership of our outstanding coaching staff, this team will proudly represent the United States this summer in Manila.”
Highlighted by several NBA award winners and honorees, the 2023 USA Men’s National Team features nine athletes who have previous USA Basketball experience with Hart, Johnson and Reaves expected to make their USA debuts this summer.
Reigning NBA All-Star Haliburton made the all-tournament team after winning gold at the 2019 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup. More recently, he suited up for the 2021 USA Select Team which trained alongside the 2021 USA Men’s National Team prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Edwards, a 2023 NBA All-Star, attended 2017 junior minicamps before also playing on the 2021 USA Select Team.
Ingram, who in 2020 was an NBA All-Star and Most Improved Player, was a finalist for the 2020 USA Men’s National Team after being a member of the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team and training with the 2016 Olympic squad prior to the Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Recognized as the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Jackson won a gold medal at the 2016 FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup. He and Bridges, who was on the 2022 NBA All-Defensive Team, played together on the 2019 USA Select Team, practicing alongside the 2019 USA Men’s National Team before the last World Cup.
Also a member of the 2019 USA Select Team, Brunson is a two-time gold medalist and the 2015 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year. He was the MVP of the 2015 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup and won gold at the 2014 FIBA U18 Men’s Americas Championship.
Five team members have Nike Hoop Summit experience including 2021 NBA champion Portis (2013), Brunson (2015), Ingram (2015) and Jackson (2017). Kessler, who earned NBA All-Rookie honors last season, was picked for the 2020 USA Nike Hoop Summit Team (canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic) and has participated in USA minicamps and training camps.
Banchero, the 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year, previously attended USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamps in 2019.
Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors) will serve as head coach of the 2023 U.S. Men’s National Team. He will be assisted by Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (L.A. Clippers) and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat).
“My staff and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to coach such talented, team-oriented players,” Kerr said. “I’m confident this group will represent our country well, with effort, talent and a commitment to winning together. We look forward to competing for a gold medal in the World Cup later this summer.”
As part of Group C, the U.S. opens the 2023 FIBA World Cup against New Zealand on Aug. 26, followed by Greece on Aug. 28 and Jordan on Aug. 30. The New Zealand and Greece contents tip off at 8:40 a.m. ET with Jordan starting at 4:40 a.m. ET. ESPN and FIBA recently announced that all 92 World Cup games will be available on various ESPN platforms. Six games will air exclusively on ESPN2, including three in the first round featuring USA Basketball. All other 86 games will be carried by ESPN+ while also being available on FIBA’s official streaming service, Courtside 1891.
Before arriving in Manila, the USA Men’s National Team will hold training camp Aug. 3-6 in Las Vegas before playing a series of exhibition games as part of the USA Basketball Showcase, which tips off Aug. 7 vs. Puerto Rico at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. The USA will also face Slovenia on Aug. 12 and Spain on Aug. 13 in Malaga, Spain, and Greece and Germany on Aug. 18 and 20, respectively, in Abu Dhabi. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit usab.com/tickets.
The United States has won the World Cup five times, including in two of the last three editions.