NBA superstars LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, together with other seasoned veterans, were not in the final roster of Team USA which will compete in the coming 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Instead, USA Basketball is sending its youth brigade, led by Paolo Banchero, this season’s NBA Rookie of the Year, and other young players to the world tournament to be hosted by the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.
The 20-year-old Banchero, who is with the Orlando Magic, is one of the 12 NBA players seeing action in the Manila side of the competitions.
James, Durant and Curry will mostly likely be listed in Team USA’s next call up, which would be the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Also not listed in the World Cup are the likes of Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls, Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.
The 6’10” Banchero, who was being sought to play for Italy, will be with Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) and Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves).
Banchero previously attended the USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamps in 2019.
Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers) is also in the roster with Josh Hart (New York 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).
Grant Hill, USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director, expressed his excitement in bringing the players to the Philippines.
“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, under the leadership of our outstanding coaching staff, this team will proudly represent the United States this summer in Manila,” said Hill in a statement.
Among the young generation of talented cagers who are expected to shine are Haliburton, Jackson, Edwards and Ingram.
Halliburton made the all-tournament team after winning the gold at the 2019 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup. He recently suited up for the 2021 USA Select Team, which trained alongside the 2021 USA Men’s National Team prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
There’s also Edwards, a 2023 NBA All-Star, who attended the 2017 junior minicamps, before also playing on the 2021 USA Select Team.
Hill said Golden State Warriors’ Steve Kerr will serve as head coach, to be assisted by Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (L.A. Clippers) and Fil-American coach Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat).
Ingram, who was an NBA All-Star and Most Improved Player in 2020, is also seen to show his A-game.
The 25-year-old Ingram was a finalist for the 2020 USA Men’s National Team after being a member of the 2016 Team USA selection that trained with the 2016 Olympic squad.
Jackson, who is the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was part of the team that won a gold medal at the 2016 FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup.