Compared to the Olympics, Team USA usually struggles at the FIBA World Cup because they rarely send their A-Team to compete in the World Cup. In recent memory, the only notable successes have been gold medals in 2010 and 2014 and third place in 2006. In 2019, Team USA finished seventh, which was the worst finish since they started sending NBA players to represent their country.
This year, Team USA is sending a roster filled with young up-and-coming stars to face the international competition and redeem the 2019 debacle. The road to a gold medal will not be easy, though. Many teams feature NBA stars and players with much experience at the international level.
Team USA, on the other hand, has little experience at the international level. The team features four one-time All-Stars, the Defensive Player of the Year, the Rookie of the Year, and plenty of young potential, but all of them still have ways to go before they can truly reach basketball stardom.
Playing for Team USA, especially if it leads to a successful tournament, could push several of these young players in the right direction to reach the next level. So, let’s look at three players who will benefit most from playing for Team USA.
Team USA #3: Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves entered the NBA as an undrafted prospect but made a name for himself with the Lakers last season. He was a key contributor to their playoff run and earned himself a big contract, which suggests that the Lakers might be betting on him to continue his rise and become one of their centerpieces of the future. If the Lakers want to make another deep playoff run next season, they need Reaves to play at least as well as he did this past season, but ideally, he will make another jump.
The third season is always a big one for NBA players, and playing for Team USA could prepare him to prove to the basketball world that this is what he really is and that there is more to come. It is up to Reaves now to show that he didn’t just have a good outlier season or simply benefit from playing with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
On Team USA, he will have to earn his minutes behind guards Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, and Tyrese Haliburton. He will have to fill the gaps, work hard, and show that he can compete with some of these bigger names. Steve Kerr expects his guards to always move off-ball, create their own shots, and fight over screens on defense at the highest level possible. Reaves has the versatility and mentality necessary for that, and if he can get consistent minutes and play well in those minutes, he will be able to put his name in the conversation with a solid group of young stars for good.
Team USA will not only offer Reaves a chance to compete during the offseason, get in shape for his next run with the Lakers, and expand his skillset, but also a chance to silence all the doubters and establish himself as one of the young players to watch from now on.
Team USA #2: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jaren Jackson Jr. made his first All-Star team and won Defensive Player of the Year all before he turned 24, but he still has a ways to go before he can call himself a true NBA star, and playing for Team USA can help get him there. Last season, for example, Jackson led the league in fouls, which is probably the biggest flaw in his game. It is hard to be the best defender in the league if you’re not out there to defend. Team USA will offer him a great opportunity to work on that.
First of all, FIBA rules only allow five personal fouls per game, so he will have less margin for error. Secondly, the team’s front court is thin, and there is a notable drop-off between him and the backup bigs. He cannot afford to foul out and will thus be pushed to watch his movements and hands-on defense.
At the same time, he will also be guarding big physical centers, which we barely ever see from him on the Grizzlies. In the NBA, Jackson has always been utilized as more of a roamer in the Grizzlies’ two-big lineups, but on Team USA, he will not have to leave his comfort zone. Ideally, he will adapt quickly to guarding physical post players and carry that over to the NBA.
So, Team USA will be a great chance for Jackson to expand the part of his game that he is already best at while also refining some other things. Last season, Jackson shot 35.5 percent from three, which is good for a big man. The Grizzlies were not a good three-point shooting team, however, and could use improvements from pretty much everyone on their roster.
Jackson now has the opportunity to work on that on the international stage. Since FIBA rules do not have a defensive three-second count, teams need floor-stretching bigs who can lure rim protectors out of the paint. This means that Jackson will get plenty of opportunities to work on his shot.
These are two aspects of the game Jackson is already good at, but playing for Team USA will also push him to add to his skillset. Rebounding should be the main thing he can take away from his run with the national team. Considering his size, wingspan, and athleticism, Jackson should be a much better rebounder than he is, and on Team USA, he will have no choice but to figure out how to do that.
There will be no Steven Adams who bullies other bigs and grabs every shot that happens to miss the basket. As the starting center, Jackson will be expected to act as the primary rebounder and ideally initiate fast breaks off of defensive rebounds. This could work wonders for Team USA with players like Anthony Edwards on the court, but it is also a skill that Jackson would be able to carry over to the Grizzlies. Especially when Morant is available, the Grizzlies’ best strategy is to get out and run.
All in all, Team USA could help Jackson expand his skill set, get him in top shape, and prime him for another leap on both ends of the floor. That leap would allow him to assert himself as a star on the Grizzlies while Morant is suspended, cement his status as one of the best young bigs in the game, and truly rise to the All-Star level instead of just bordering on it.
Team USA #1: Anthony Edwards
The former number-one pick has already taken the league by storm. He made his first All-Star team as an injury replacement, carried the Timberwolves to back-to-back playoff appearances, and just signed a giant contract extension. He is one of the bigger names on Team USA, so it was surprising when Coach Kerr first left him out of the starting lineup. Since the team’s first scrimmages, he has replaced Cam Johnson as the fifth starter alongside Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Brandon Ingram, and Jaren Jackson Jr., however, and impressed with his strong two-way play.
Many experts have widely named Edwards as the key to a successful tournament. This team has no clear superstar or go-to scorer, and it seems that everyone is just waiting for Edwards to claim that role. He is arguably the most explosive and mesmerizing scorer on the team and could easily take over every game. It is hard to stop someone who can run faster and jump higher than anyone else on the court while also taking on some of the toughest defensive assignments.
Playing for Team USA usually has a positive effect on rising young stars. Kevin Durant, for example, played at the FIBA World Cup in 2010 just before entering his fourth NBA season, led the team to a gold medal, and took off from there. For Edwards, a successful tournament could cement his status as a regular All-Star and elite two-way player. If he stands out in this tournament and continues to set the NBA on fire, he could very well become the new face of the league.
A change of guard is inevitable, and it is coming closer and closer with every passing season, so it is time for someone to clearly emerge as the next big thing in American basketball. Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are certainly up there, but when it comes to American players, no one has really separated themselves yet.
With Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, and Trae Young, there are various concerns, and Edwards could very well surpass them on his rise to superstardom. One thing that already sets him apart from most young stars is his defensive talent. Edwards is more than just a high-level scorer.
Playing for Team USA is not only a chance to prepare Edwards for the upcoming season with the Timberwolves but also to show the world his impressive two-way game and lay the foundation for future greatness.