Workforce USA loses Kuzma (ankle), finalizes roster
Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers won’t play for Workforce USA within the upcoming FIBA World Cup after it was decided that his left ankle harm would forestall him from collaborating, USA Basketball introduced Saturday.
With the lack of Kuzma, the USA Basketball roster is now finalized with 12 gamers.
The official crew roster, coached by Gregg Popovich, will embody Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Joe Harris (Brooklyn Nets), Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks), Khris Middleton (Bucks), Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz), Mason Plumlee (Denver Nuggets), Marcus Good (Celtics), Jayson Tatum (Celtics), Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers), Kemba Walker (Celtics) and Derrick White (San Antonio Spurs).
Due to the sore ankle, Kuzma didn’t play in Saturday’s 98-94 exhibition loss to Australia, which snapped a 78-game worldwide profitable streak by Workforce USA over a span of practically 13 years.
He had scored 12 factors in Workforce USA’s win towards Australia on Thursday, pulling down three Three-pointers.
White is recovering after a tough fall Saturday that required him to get 4 stitches over his left eye. The crew, nevertheless, did get a lift with the return of Good, who missed three weeks with a calf harm.
The FIBA World Cup begins Aug. 31 in Shanghai, China. Workforce USA opens towards the Czech Republic subsequent Saturday.
Workforce USA is trying to pull off a FIBA World Cup three-peat, which has by no means been finished within the 69-year historical past of the occasion.