International basketball will make its return to the spotlight this summer. August and September will feature the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, and of course, next summer will feature international hoops at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The United States are currently the defending champions at both tournaments, and have an eye on retaining its crown.
We’re still a while away from learning the players who will participate at both events, we did learn a collection of players who will attend the upcoming minicamp in Las Vegas ahead of the World Cup. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, 16 of the 18 players who are expected to attend the camp are either confirmed or plan on heading to Vegas this August.
Here are the players who are mentioned:
- LaMarcus Aldridge
- Bradley Beal
- Anthony Davis
- Andre Drummond
- Eric Gordon
- James Harden
- Kyle Kuzma
- Damian Lillard
- Brook Lopez
- Kevin Love
- CJ McCollum
- Khris Middleton
- Donovan Mitchell
- Jayson Tatum
- PJ Tucker
Additionally, Paul Millsap is reportedly “a possibility” to attend, while Marc Stein of the New York Times added Kemba Walker’s name to the list. These aren’t the only players who will go, though, because while the 18-player training camp roster will eventually get whittled down to 12 players on the USA Basketball squad, they need someone to play against. That will be the select team, which may end up featuring none other than Zion Williamson.
USA Basketball has invited Zion Williamson to join the 10-man select team that will compete alongside the 18-man training camp roster Coach Gregg Popovich will oversee in Las Vegas in early August, @NYTSports has learned
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 5, 2019
Beyond Williamson, a pair of young big men in the league will also make the trip as members of the select squad.
https://twitter.com/TimBontemps/status/1136348134240473088
Being on the select team is still a pathway to make it to the senior side — Jerry Colangelo, the chairman of USA Basketball, told Stein that it’s possible for someone like Williamson to impress to the point that they get included in the national team’s immediate plans.
Regarding Zion Williamson, @USABasketball chairman Jerry Colangelo notes that Anthony Davis went from the Select roster to the Olympic roster in 2012 before ever playing an NBA game and said USAB wants to give Zion "the platform to see how he can compete with the vets"
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 5, 2019
There’s a whole lot of talent that will fight for national team spots in Las Vegas, but as was the case when a young Davis made it back in the day, there would be something really cool about watching Williamson suit up for his country before he ever plays an NBA game.
