This year, in the FIBA World Cup, Team USA pretty much employed their "B" team, with only one player who has made an All-NBA team, and only 2 current All Stars. And a big reason for that was the lack of interest from the star players in the NBA.
But I guess the Olympics are different. Beats me.
Steph Curry (Warriors PG), in an interview with Rachel Nichols said "that's the plan" when asked whether he'll play in the Olympics in 2020. Steph has previously been on two World Cup teams, but this would be his first time in the Olympics.
Steph wasn't the only one who verbally committed to play. Damian Lillard, fellow west coast sharpshooting point guard, also said that he "plans on being a part of that" this week while on a trip to Sydney, Australia. Apparently Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, fellow Golden State Warriors, and LeBron James, arguably the best player of all time, and certainly the best player in the last 17 years, are also interested in playing in Tokyo, which is where the 2020 Summer Olympics will be held.
The coaches from the World Cup will be back, head coach Gregg Popovich (Spurs), and assistants Steve Kerr (Warriors) and Jay Wright (Villanova University).
De'aron Fox will probably not be allowed to play next year, no matter how good he is, because he withdrew from the World Cup days before leaving for China (where the World Cup was held). Donovan Mitchell, star of Utah Jazz and standout in China, says he would love to play, but “I think I have to wait for them to ask,” he said.
Myles Turner was asked a few questions after the disappointing 7th place finish. “We didn’t get that gold medal (and that’s) something that is going to stick with us for a very long … shoot, the rest of our lives.”
Not winning any medal is certainly frustrating for this particular Team USA, since a lot of them probably will not see any opportunity present itself like this one again. Meanwhile, on the team from Spain, Marc Gasol became only the second player to win an NBA Championship and get a gold medal in the FIBA World Cup. Gasol won with the Toronto Raptors and Team Spain; the other was Lamar Odom, who won with the Lakers, and then Team USA.
See what Robin Lopez thinks of USA's chance of winning the 2020 gold medal:
While the team USA sent to the FIBA World Cup was disappointing, there will probably be much better players to bring home the gold in Tokyo next year.
Comments