Team USA has finalized its 12-man roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Are your favorite NBA stars part of the lineup?
The Philippines is one of the top markets for the NBA in the world, with millions of Filipino basketball fans following the league. And as the basketball-crazy nation will be hosting the 2023 FIBA World Cup, there has been no lack of anticipation for the NBA players who will be coming to the country’s shores to compete.
This is why everyone has been eager to find out who will be representing Team USA in the upcoming World Cup. And with less than two months to go before their first game of the tournament, USA Basketball has confirmed their 12-man roster.
Here’s what you need to know about the USA squad.
Who’s on the 12-man roster?
Instead of announcing all 12 players at once, Team USA has slowly revealed the players who have confirmed their playing slots in the upcoming FIBA World Cup over the last few months. But, the 12-man roster was finalized and announced just this week.
Here are the players of Team USA who will be coming to Manila to compete in the World Cup:
- Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)
- Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets)
- Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
- Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
- Josh Hart (New York Knicks)
- Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Cam Johnson (Brooklyn Nets)
- Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz)
- Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers)
Team USA’s players still have yet to play for the country’s main national team, with their average age at around 24 years old. However, they will all need to step up if they are hoping to improve USA’s disappointing seventh-place finish in the previous World Cup.
Who’s on the coaching staff?
While their players lack national team experience, leading Team USA is a highly experienced coaching staff.
The squad will be led by head coach Steve Kerr from the Golden State Warriors, who is a four-time NBA Championship-winning coach, and who won the FIBA World Cup as a player himself in 1986 (then still known as the FIBA World Championship).
Joining Kerr will be Filipino-American Erik Spoelstra from the Miami Heat and Mark Few from Gonzaga as assistant coaches. Spoelstra won two NBA Championships as head coach of the Heat, while Few has also won two NCAA Division I Regional Championships.
How far is Team USA expected to go?
Despite the players’ lack of national team experience, and despite the country’s seventh-place finish in the World Cup, Team USA comes into the 2023 edition as one of the favorites to win it all. After all, their record is still impressive, as they have won three World Cups since NBA players began competing in 1994.
Team USA’s last win wasn’t too long ago, either, having won the championship in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. With all this, many people expect the US to advance far into the finals around, and if they play their cards right, even to the finals.
However, it will be no easy task for the American squad, as other favored teams are expected to put up a challenge, such as FIBA World No. 1 team, Spain.
Which member of Team USA are you excited to see compete in this year’s FIBA World Cup?
Banner images from Austin Reaves, Jalen Brunson, and Mikal Bridges on Instagram.
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