USA Basketball has announced its 12-man roster for a pair of upcoming World Cup qualifying games against Nicaragua. Those games will take place in Managua, Nicaragua on November 28 and in College Park, Georgia on December 1, with Team USA deploying the following squad:
- Kyle Guy, G
- Brandon Knight, G
- Jaden Shackelford, G
- Javonte Smart, G
- Ryan Woolridge, G
- Pedro Bradshaw, G/F
- Nate Hinton, G/F
- MarJon Beauchamp, F
- Torrey Craig, F
- Kessler Edwards, F
- Garrison Brooks, C
- Jeremiah Tilmon, C
The roster, which is coached by former Rockets head coach Stephen Silas, is made up of current free agents or G League players, with no active NBA players taking part. However, seven of the 12 Team USA members have previous NBA experience — Craig (458 regular season games) and Knight (451 games) have spent the most time in the league.
Unlike Knight, who has been out of the NBA since the 2021/22 season, Craig played for the Bulls and Celtics in ’24/25 and is one of a handful of players who was in the league within the past year. That group also includes Edwards, who made 40 appearances last season for the Mavericks, and Beauchamp, a former first-round pick who played in 35 games for three NBA teams in ’24/25.
Smart and Hinton have previously suited up for the U.S. national team — Smart won bronze with Team USA at this year’s AmeriCup, while Hinton was a member of the U.S. team for a pair of qualifying windows in 2023 (for the World Cup) and 2024 (for the AmeriCup).
This is the first of six windows of qualifying games for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, which will tip off on August 27, 2027. Team USA will also compete in qualifiers next February/March, July, August/September, and November/December, with the final qualifying window opening in Feb. 2027.
The actual World Cup roster is unlikely to feature any of the players in this 12-man group, since the U.S. typically sends a more star-studded squad to the event itself, which takes place during the NBA offseason. However, the qualifying games give some less-heralded players the opportunity to represent their home country and to help Team USA clinch its spot in the World Cup.
garbage. I hate that our stars don’t want to play its BS . I honestly think it should be a part of their contracts that they can only decline if they are injured. I loved that MJ and the other that played Same time as him wanted to rep the US they had pride the athletes today are all me me me BS
Did you even read the last couple of sentences? Do you understand that these games are played during the NBA regular season? You’re hating for nothing
yes I did read that and I stand by my statement.
Why is there no Centers on this roster?
Thanks Brandon Knight for representing your country unlike the rich spoiled ones of today
Who needs LeBron when you have Pedro
MarJon Beauchamp and Brandon Knight need to step up. Who is that Kyle guy? Oh yeah he is more clutch than LeBron
Send these guys to the Olympics!