Fresh off a second consecutive loss in the 2019 FIBA World Cup that will ensure USA finishes no better than seventh – the worst finish ever by an American men’s team in a major tournament – Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press reports that USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo won’t forget those who backed out of commitments to play in the World Cup this summer when the time comes to start assembling the 2020 Tokyo Olympics roster.
“I can only say, you can’t help but notice and remember who you thought you were going to war with and who didn’t show up.” Colangelo said. “The players (we have) did everything they can do… But we went in with higher expectations in terms of roster and it didn’t kind of happen the way we were hopeful and anticipating and expecting. That, to me, was a big disappointment.”
As Reynolds notes, of the 35 players originally selected for the U.S. player pool, only four are in China for the World Cup. Many pullouts cited schedule concerns and lingering injuries, but it appears Colangelo isn’t satisfied with some of the players’ excuses.
“Going forward for USA Basketball, we’re going to need the cooperation of teams, agents and then there has to be communication with players 1-on-1 to solidify those commitments,” Colangelo said. “I am going to be anxious to see how many players reach out early to indicate that they wish and want and desire to play (in the 2020 Olympics)… But I’ll make this statement: It’s as much about maybe who we don’t want as much as who we want.”
Really can’t blame the players for pulling out.
That’s what she said.
Yeah but they pulled out too late..
Agree.
Colangelo really should have protected himself instead of relying on pullouts in the first place
Haha!!
I don’t get it if Colangelo is going to “remember” these pull outs that he was not expecting.. and the backside way of saying he doesn’t want those players in the Olympics.., then we’re going to finish seventh again. Is that with Colangelo wants?
I don’t understand his trying to pull a power move. He has no Leverage.
Yeah pretty much. He’s just frustrated and embarrassed right now. He’d welcome back all of them with open arms in 6 months.
You wouldn’t finish 7th with more time to train and fit the pieces together is more the implication. Everyone on this site agreed this team was still a powerhouse on paper.
Doesn’t every team have the same amount of time to prepare?
If LeBron, Kawhi, Davis, Curry, Lillard,George and Durant want in. There’s not much Colangelo can do to stop them.
He might actually beg some of those guys so they can wipe out the memory of this embarrassing tournament.
I think he was referencing the players who were only on the team because all those guys dropped out. Guys like Tatum, Fox, and Tobias
Tatum played, he sprained his ankle.
KD will be too busy getting back into shape to play next summer.
Why is a has been like colengelo in charge?
Real heroes go to war, Mr. Colangelo. Your players play a game…..
Well said
If they too the time to recruit the right players in the NBA, they wouldn’t need to rely on super stars who think they’re bigger than the game is right now. Team USA doesn’t need prima donas to win gold.
*If they took
This tournament means nothing. Olympics means a lot more to players.
Please retire.
This comes from the clown who helped his son with those infamous Twitter burner accounts
It’s simple; players want an Olympic medal, nobody cares about World Cup. This ain’t soccer.
Does any really care about the World Cup? Why should the players. This is a non-story.
Actually a lot of people do. There’s no better feeling than representing your flag and country. Perhaps for the USA it doesn’t mean anything but for the rest of the world it does. It doesn’t matter what sport or competition if you have the name of your country in your chest you should care and play to win.
Kemba is tremendous but very few lead dogs are 5’11 or 6’0. He’s a perfect 3rd option, however. Mitchell solidified his status as far ahead of Tatum and Brown. Joe Harris is a specialist but displayed all around game at FIBA. Stock up for him. Derrick White gave them good minutes but his presence on the roster says it all about this not being the A team or the B team for the US. Myles Turner showed some signs, it’s all about consistency. He’s one of the better solutions for the problem of Giannis. Harrison Barnes was one of their better players, showed great aggressiveness if not the semblance of an outside game. Middleton was solid, nothing spectacular, while Plumlee and Brook didn’t fit the scheme.
Heres looking at you kid! Will always have Paris!
When you Blackballed the LEGENDARY ” Carmelo Anthony ” and act like nothing happening
Olympics is greater than FIBA in Americans minds. Having said that players need to decide yea or nay early. It is pretty childish to practice and play scrimmages/warm up games and then quit under the pretext of wanting to prepare for the upcoming season or some other BS. Prime example…De’Aaron Fox.
It may come to Fox or Mitchell for the Olympics, which gets better player participation. In that case, Fox should be hounded out of there.
Absolutely. The structure of the USA Basketball model was clear from the start (multi-year commitments and credits as those are fulfilled). We no longer put together event specific all star teams. There is no shame in not committing, but if you commit, then you fulfill the commitment. This isn’t a hard concept, except it appears for the modern generation of American players.