By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Team USA didn’t only fail to compete for a medal in the 2019 FIBA World Cup after getting beaten by France in a knockout quarterfinals game, but will also be forced to settle for the classification game for positions 7 to 8, following a loss to Serbia.
While Gregg Popovich and Donovan Mitchell didn’t want to talk about the numerous absences their team had to cope with, USA Basketball Managing Director Jerry Colangelo said he will remember who “didn’t show up” in the call for “war.”
Per the Associated Press:
“I can only say, you can’t help but notice and remember who you thought you were going to war with and who didn’t show up,” Colangelo said. “I’m a firm believer that you deal with the cards you’re dealt. All we could have done, and we did it, is get the commitments from a lot of players. So with that kind of a hand you feel reasonably confident that you’re going to be able to put a very good representative team on the court.
Colangelo added the following regarding the 2020 Olympic Games:
“Going forward for USA Basketball, we’re going to need the cooperation of teams, agents and then there has to be communication with players 1-on-1 to solidify those commitments,” Colangelo said. “I am going to be anxious to see how many players reach out early to indicate that they wish and want and desire to play.
“But I’ll make this statement: It’s as much about maybe who we don’t want as much as who we want.”