Colangelo will not overlook U.S. World Cup pullouts

DONGGUAN, China — USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo mentioned Thursday that when the time comes to begin assembling the 2020 Tokyo Olympics roster, he will not overlook those that backed out of commitments to play within the World Cup this summer season.

Of the 35 gamers initially chosen for the U.S. participant pool, solely 4 are in China for the FIBA World Cup. The U.S. misplaced to France within the quarterfinals, ending a streak of seven main worldwide tournaments — 4 Olympics and three World Cups — the place the Individuals captured a medal, the final 5 of them being gold.

“I can solely say, you’ll be able to’t assist however discover and keep in mind who you thought you had been going to struggle with and who did not present up,” Colangelo mentioned. “I am a agency believer that you just take care of the playing cards you are dealt. All we might have executed, and we did it, is get the commitments from plenty of gamers. So with that type of a hand you’re feeling moderately assured that you are going to have the ability to put an excellent consultant workforce on the court docket.

“Nobody would have anticipated the pullouts that we had.”

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The U.S. misplaced once more to Serbia on Thursday and can end no higher than seventh — the worst end by an American males’s workforce in a serious match. The earlier worst was sixth on the 2002 world championships.

The U.S. coaches with this World Cup workforce insist this group deserved higher, when it comes to return on effort invested.

“It is a terrific, nice group of men who’re competing,” U.S. assistant coach Steve Kerr mentioned. “They have been so dedicated to one another and the method. You are taking plenty of delight in that and also you’re upset for them. However that is life.”

Many gamers cited schedule considerations as a cause to not play this summer season, whereas others are coping with accidents and a few are acclimating upfront of becoming a member of new groups when coaching camps begin in lower than three weeks. The brand new worldwide schedule is a problem as nicely, with the World Cup and the Olympics in consecutive offseasons for the primary time since 1967 and 1968.

Greater than 50 gamers had been a part of the U.S. World Cup plan at one level or one other. Of these, 12 went to China, two obtained minimize after the primary week of coaching camp _ and the opposite three dozen or so dropped out on their very own.

“We will let the mud settle, let issues depress a little bit bit,” Colangelo mentioned. “Clearly I am at all times considering forward which implies what is going on to happen, and it will occur quick and shortly as a result of we simply should get our act collectively for the Olympics.”

The U.S. will go to Tokyo looking for a fourth consecutive gold medal, and getting stars to play on the Olympic workforce isn’t an issue. The World Cup workforce wasn’t precisely loaded with superstars _ solely two of the 12 U.S. gamers on the World Cup roster had been All-Stars this previous season, whereas 9 of the 12 gamers on the 2016 Olympic workforce had been coming off All-Star appearances.

Colangelo felt ankle accidents sustained by Jayson Tatum through the World Cup and Kyle Kuzma simply previous to the match harm the U.S. possibilities in China, noting that the workforce felt Kuzma was going to be a giant assist. However he insisted that he did not fault the hassle of the gamers who made the dedication this summer season.

“The gamers did every little thing they’ll do,” Colangelo mentioned. “They’re a very good group of men. However we went in with greater expectations when it comes to roster and it did not type of occur the best way we had been hopeful and anticipating and anticipating. That, to me, was a giant disappointment.”

Colangelo additionally expressed disappointment for U.S. coach Gregg Popovich, who may also lead the Tokyo-bound workforce subsequent summer season. Popovich missed out on making the 1972 Olympic workforce as a participant, and was an assistant coach on the 2002 world championship and 2004 Olympic groups that did not win gold medals.

“I instructed Pop I felt actually unhealthy for him as a result of I needed him to have an opportunity to win a gold medal after his expertise with USA Basketball previously,” Colangelo mentioned. “However it wasn’t meant to be on this competitors.”

So now, his eyes are turning to Tokyo.

It will not take lengthy for the recruiting course of to begin, both.

“Going ahead for USA Basketball, we will want the cooperation of groups, brokers after which there must be communication with gamers 1-on-1 to solidify these commitments,” Colangelo mentioned. “I’m going to be troubled to see what number of gamers attain out early to point that they need and wish and want to play.

“However I will make this assertion: It is as a lot about possibly who we do not need as a lot as who we wish.”