Team USA Bump
The United States of America Men’s Basketball National Team brings 12 players to China to compete in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, and two of those twelve play for the Milwaukee Bucks.
What fans of the Bucks and of both Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez will hope for is some of that vaunted “Team USA Bump” to come back with them.
Over the past dozen years, from the “Redeem Team” in 2008 until the present, players taking part in Team USA competitions, and especially the World Cups, have come back to their teams and elevated their game in the following season.
An acute example is the 2010 team (which Brook Lopez missed due to injuries), which had young players such as Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose explode after the competition, winning five of the next seven MVP awards.
While no one is expecting Khris Middleton to win MVP next season he could certainly take a confident step forward as a player.
He is not only the best small forward on Team USA, but in the entire World Cup field, and a lack of great wing defenders should afford him the opportunity to shine. A dominant showing in China with his nation displayed on his chest could do worlds of good for his confidence as a player.
Middleton and Lopez will both also benefit from being around other great players and learning from them.
Perhaps Middleton can pick up some of Donovan Mitchell‘s floater moves, or get some advice from Harrison Barnes on how to guard larger players, something Middleton has struggled with when shifting down to power forward.
Lopez was the most prolific 3-point shooting 7-footer in NBA history last season, but that doesn’t mean he can’t grow from working alongside Myles Turner in practice.
There is also the side benefit of recruitment that can come from Team USA. Fans of the Bucks need not be too concerned, as both Lopez and Middleton re-upped with the Bucks for the next few years this offseason.
Could a player from another team look to sign with Milwaukee after forging a relationship with Middleton or Lopez? What if Joe Harris likes what he hears of the organization?
What if Marcus Smart sours on the Boston Celtics when he is a free agent and wants to battle alongside Middleton? Being on Team USA holds a number of benefits, both certain and potential.