Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker is coming into the Team USA experience as one of the most experienced NBA veterans. Walker is embracing a leadership role as the team's likely starting point guard, looking to build chemistry alongside his teammates in a short period of time.
Due to the nature of this summer, USA Basketball has put an emphasis in building relationships between players and developing a bond that most other countries have been developing for years. The Americans have the edge in talent, but that could prove useless without the necessary synergy to put those abilities to work at the world stage once the real competition starts in the upcoming 2019 FIBA World Cup in China:
“Our comradery, our chemistry, it's getting better each and every day,” said Walker, who recently landed in Melbourne along with his teammates, according to Kane Pitman of ESPN. “We just had a 17-hour flight here, so we were on the plane joking, laughing, stuff like that. It's been great, I am one of the only guys on this team that has been around a little bit longer, so it is fun, I'm just being myself, trying to bring the energy and enthusiasm.”
The U.S. dispatched the Spanish national team 90-81 on Friday in Los Angeles, but will have two upcoming tough tests against Australia before a final go-around against Canada before making the final two cuts and departing for China.
That final 12-man roster won't only be dependent on skill and position, but also on the lineups that best mesh together and which rotations give head coach Gregg Popovich an opportunity to win. Chemistry is at a high demand for this young team, and Walker is wasting no time.
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