There are only a couple of months left before the Olympics begin, and Team USA is serious about winning the entire thing after their disappointing performance in the FIBA World Cup last year. They will be announcing the preliminary list of players, almost always comprised with NBA players, who will be able to play against them soon.
Team USA program director Jerry Coangelo is happy with the potential pool of players he got. He said, as reported by Marc Stein of The New York Times, that they should be able to release the full player pool within the next couple of days.
Program director Jerry Colangelo tells @NYTSports that @usabasketball is planning to announce a preliminary roster for this summer's 2020 Olympics by month's end that could approach 40 players. "We've had a great response," Colangelo said
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 18, 2020
He also said that NBA legend Gregg Popovich will be leading the team to Japan in the summer the same way he did during the 2019 World Cup.
The plan from there, Colangelo said, is for @usabasketball to narrow that initial expanded roster down to a 12-man final roster for the Tokyo Olympics in early June … before Gregg Popovich brings the group together for training camp in early July
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 18, 2020
There wasn’t a legitimate NBA superstar who was on Team USA when they participated in the tournament, as many of the players prioritized taking a rest over the tedious offseason they’ll get by participating. The lack of star power explains why the team faltered against some of the world’s best.
However, the wind has now changed, and plenty of players are looking to join the trip to Tokyo. Houston Rockets superstar James Harden expressed his intent to play for Team USA in the Olympics. Draymond Green believes that players are now interested in representing Team USA after their disappointing exit in the World Cup. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and LeBron James also expressed an interest in playing for Team USA.
Fans would have no idea on which players will be included until the 40-man pool is released. However, they are already looking forward to the kind of basketball that Popovich can cook up with an incredible roster.
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