Credit: Twitter
The USA men’s national basketball team has recently announced its roster for the FIBA World Cup 2023, which will be held in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10. The team will be coached by Steve Kerr, who replaced Gregg Popovich after the Tokyo Olympics while big names like Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum have been left out for the upcoming world cup.
However, some of the stars who played in Japan will not be returning for the World Cup, including Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, and Khris Middleton. Josh Hart locked in his spot to represent the Stars and Stripes and round out Team USA’s 12-man roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Hart will join his fellow Villanova products and former teammates Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, who were previously confirmed roster members.
Hart averaged 9.8 points and 7.8 rebounds during the 2022-23 season after he joined Brunson and the New York Knicks midway through the year. Bridges, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets, is averaging 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in the 2022-23 season.
The team will also have some young talent from the draft class of 2021, such as Anthony Edwards, Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler, and Austin Reaves. Edwards, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, was the No. 1 overall pick and is averaging 24.6 points per game. Kessler averages 9.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
The team will also have some veterans who have previous experience with Team USA, such as Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Brandon Ingram. Haliburton, who plays for the Sacramento Kings, won a gold medal at the 2019 Under-19 World Cup and is a 2023 All-Star. Brunson, who plays for the New York Knicks, won two gold medals at the 2014 Under-18 Americas Championship and the 2015 Under-19 World Championship.
Here is the full 12-man squad for Team USA:
- Jalen Brunson
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Anthony Edwards
- Austin Reaves
- Josh Hart
- Brandon Ingram
- Mikal Bridges
- Cam Johnson
- Jaren Jackson Jr.
- Paolo Banchero
- Walker Kessler
- Bobby Portis
The team will play its first game against New Zealand on August 26, followed by Greece on August 28 in Group C of the tournament. The team is favored to win the World Cup for the sixth time in its history.
