The managing director of the USA Basketball national team, Jerry Colangelo, and head coach, Gregg Popovich, have faced plenty of withdrawals from the roster, so they had to invite new players to join the training camp. New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard JJ Redick and Los Angeles Clippers center Montrezl Harrell are the latest to decline the invitation. However, Miami Heat big guy Bam Adebayo will join Team USA, becoming the 17th player on the roster.
Heat center Bam Adebayo has accepted an invite to Team USA training camp for FIBA World Cup, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/BHwSYzEdok
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) July 27, 2019
Adebayo will join Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings), Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers), Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks), Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors), Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz), Mason Plumlee (Denver Nuggets), P.J. Tucker (Houston Rockets), Julius Randle (New York Knicks), Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers), and Thaddeus Young (Chicago Bulls).
Numerous star players decided not to take part in this summer’s FIBA World Cup in China and opted to focus on the upcoming season instead. Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), James Harden and Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets), Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Zion Williamson and JJ Redick (New Orleans Pelicans), Tobias Harris (Philadelphia 76ers), and Montrezl Harrell (Los Angeles Clippers) have all declined training camp invitations.
The 22-year-old Adebayo is one of the most promising big men in the NBA. He averaged 8.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 23.3 minutes per game for the Miami Heat last season, appearing in all 82 games (28 starts). Adebayo is the future of Miami after the Heat decided to trade starting center Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason.
The USA Basketball Men’s National Team Training Camp will take place Aug. 5-9 in Las Vegas and Team USA will face the select team in an exhibition game at T-Mobile Arena on Aug. 9. The 2019 FIBA World Cup in China starts Aug. 31 and runs through Sept. 15. Team USA will be coached by Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs) while Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), Lloyd Pierce (Atlanta Hawks), and Jay Wright (Villanova) will serve as his assistants.
