USA Basketball’s National Team Pool for 2018-20 Revealed

USA Basketball Men’s National Team at 2016 Olympics in Rio
USA Basketball Men’s National Team at 2016 Olympics in Rio. Photo by Fernando Soutello/AGIF/REX/Shutterstock

USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo revealed on Friday the names of 35 players who will be part of the pool for 2018-20. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and others on the list will be expected to attend the USA Men’s National Team mini-camp that will take place in Las Vegas from July 25 to July 27. The Las Vegas mini-camp will also be the first time that Gregg Popovich will meet with the team as the new head coach.

Most of the players on the list have been part of the pool or roster on previous occasions, except the newcomers Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Isaiah Thomas (Los Angeles Lakers), CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers), and Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers). A notable exception from the list is Carmelo Anthony (Oklahoma City Thunder) who said he will retire from USA Basketball Men’s National Team after winning his third gold medal at 2016 Olympics in Rio.

While we do not have an official competition that we need to prepare for in 2018, the selection and announcement of our new pool of national team members and this year’s July minicamp are important first steps in our preparations to defend the FIBA World Cup and Olympic titles we won during the last two quadrenniums,” – said Colangelo after announcing the list.

The rest of the players who found themselves on pool for 2018-20 are: Harrison Barnes (Dallas Mavericks); Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards); Jimmy Butler (Minnesota Timberwolves); Mike Conley Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies); DeMarcus Cousins (New Orleans Pelicans); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder); Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets); Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors); Blake Griffin (Detroit Pistons); Tobias Harris (Los Angeles Clippers); Gordon Hayward (Boston Celtics); Kyrie Irving (Boston Celtics); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs); Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers); Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers); Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors); Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers); Chris Paul (Houston Rockets); Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors); Kemba Walker (Charlotte Hornets); and John Wall (Washington Wizards).

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