BASKETBALL
HEAT CENTER BAM ADEBAYO WAS ONE OF TWO PLAYERS CUT FROM THE TEAM USA ROSTER AS IT PREPARES FOR THE FIBA WORLD CUP IN CHINA,
After accepting a late invitation to participate in Team USA training camp, Heat center Bam Adebayo will not play in the FIBA World Cup.
Adebayo was informed Friday night that he had been cut from the national team, as Team USA wrapped up a week of training camp in Las Vegas. Just before receiving the news, Adebayo finished Friday’s Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage with three points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals in 10 minutes, 45 seconds of playing time.
Bulls forward Thaddeus Young also did not make the cut, with Team USA moving to Los Angeles to resume camp next week. USA Basketball is working to trim the roster to the 12 players who will represent the country at the World Cup, which will be in China.
“We’re going to be patient with the rest of the squad because we have plenty of time, we have two weeks to decide who will be the final 12,” said Jerry Colangelo, USA Men’s National Team managing director. “Fortyeight hours before Game 1 in China is when we have to submit a roster so we want to make sure everyone gets a real shot.
“There’s some things we like about every one of the players but how do we come to 12? We don’t have to make the decision now and we want to give everyone a real shot.”
The list of Team USA players still in contention for the 12 World Cup roster spots includes: Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum from the Celtics; Kyle Lowry from the Raptors; Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez from the Bucks; Harrison Barnes from the Kings; Kyle Kuzma from the Lakers; Donovan Mitchell from the Jazz; P.J. Tucker from the Rockets; Myles Turner from the Pacers, Marvin Bagley and De’Aaron Fox from the Kings; Joe Harris from the Nets; Derrick White from the Spurs; and Mason Plumlee from the Nuggets.
“It would mean a great deal for me and the organization,” Adebayo said last week when asked about the possibility of earning a spot on the roster. “They haven’t had a player out there since LeBron [James] and D-Wade.”
— ANTHONY CHIANG
ETC.
Tennis: Gael Monfils set up a semifinal match against top-seeded Rafael Nadal in Canada’s Rogers Cup, outlasting 10th-seeded Roberto Bautista
Agut 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2) in a match that had been suspended Friday night because of lighting. Monfils finally finished off Agut after a rain delay Saturday. On the women’s side, Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu advanced to the final with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over Sofia Kenin. Andreescu will play for the title against the winner of the semifinal between Serena Williams and Marie Bouzkova.
Soccer: After having watched Manchester City and Liverpool begin the Premier League with emphatic wins, Tottenham provided extra excitement with two late Harry Kane goals bagging a 3-1 victory over promoted Aston Villa. Manchester City delivered its own statement by routing West Ham 5-0 at the London Stadium, a day after Liverpool’s campaign began with a 4-1 win over Norwich. ... Marseille made a disappointing start to the French league by losing 2-0 at home to Reims.