USA Basketball has depth, few stars for worlds
The last time USA Basketball ventured overseas to compete in the FIBA World Cup, in 2014, coach Mike Krzyzewski had an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.
Virtually the entire roster was composed of lottery picks, including No. 1 overall selections Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Derrick Rose. Krzyzewski trotted out two future MVPS — Stephen Curry and James Harden — and future all-stars at all five positions.
That group thrashed the competition in Spain, going 9-0 and winning by an average of 33 points.
The state of USAB is different with the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China approaching later this month: Gregg Popovich has replaced Krzyzewski, and a long list of stars has elected to sit out following a busy summer free agency period and with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on the horizon.
For the first time in more than a decade, a major international basketball tournament will be held in which the marquee talents — Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece and Nikola Jokic of Serbia — are not Americans.
While USAB is working through a coaching change and stuck fielding a B-team, it remains the heavy favorite to win gold. Its chief advantage will be its depth: Popovich’s roster might not include the World Cup’s top individual talents, but he will still have a dozen proven NBA players, including multiple budding stars.
Here’s how the 12-player roster might shake out (Popovich’s final picks will be made before USAB heads on an overseas tour later this month):
Point guards: Kemba Walker, Kyle Lowry, De’aaron Fox
Walker pencils in as USAB’S lead scoring playmaker. Throughout the past decade, USAB has utilized high-level shooters at the point guard spot to maximize space in the half court. Walker should naturally carry on that tradition.
Lowry’s status is in question due to recent thumb surgery. If he withdraws, Popovich could carry Fox, an electric speedster who will open camp on USA’S younger “select” and Marcus Smart, a hard-nosed defensive specialist.
Shooting guards: Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown
Mitchell has reps as a lead offensive option in Utah. Brown is exactly the type of two-way, multi-positional athlete that has long thrived in USAB’S system.
Small forwards: Khris Middleton, Jayson Tatum
Middleton’s threepoint range and plus defense should earn him plenty of minutes.
Against FIBA competition, Tatum should have the space for aggressive drives to the hoop.
Power forwards:
P.J. Tucker, Harrison Barnes, Kyle Kuzma
USAB has long had an affinity for unselfish vets such as Tayshaun Prince and Andre Iguodala, and Tucker is the obvious candidate to follow in their footsteps this year. The Rockets forward is content to forsake his own offense in favor of rebounding, defense at multiple positions and constant energy.
Centers: Myles Turner, Brook Lopez
Turner, a high-level shot-blocker, has a chance to enhance his reputation with a strong tournament.
The lumbering Lopez must show he’s a stylistic fit with USAB, which has tended to blitz opponents off the court with pace and pressure. His size and interior defense could be helpful against the likes of Jokic and Rudy Gobert.