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USA Basketball national team manager director Grant Hill. – USAB WEBSITE
MANILA, Philippines-Although they do not yet have a final roster for Team USA for the upcoming 2023 Fiba World Cup, managing director Grant Hill said the entire organization is excited to compete in the Philippines.
Most of the possible players for the USA are still tied to the NBA season. But Hill is not surprised and is optimistic about building a good squad for the World Cup which the country hosts in August.
“We have a lot of contact, engagement, interaction and overall excitement in our reach with players, agents, and representatives and various teams,” Hill said in an online media scrum.
“Everyone is very happy and excited about the possibility of representing the USA at the 2023 Fiba world cup in Manila, Philippines.”
Hill, an NBA veteran, also said that national team coach Steve Kerr would also like to visit and compete in the host country for this year’s Fiba tournament.
“[There’s] a lot of excitement this summer when we go to the Philippines but of course all of us, including coach Steve Kerr, the coaching staff and the players, we are all looking forward to this challenge.
The USA will be dealing with a huge potential matchup in the 2023 World Cup repeat, including 2019 champions Spain and finalists Argentina.
‘GUARD PLAY IS IMPORTANT’
FILE– The 2021 USA Basketball Men’s National Team practices at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV as the team prepares for the Tokyo Olympics on July 6, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP
Thankfully for Hill and the coaching staff, they already have a game plan—get more guards to step up to the plate.
“It’s a different game, no question. I think the guard game is important and it’s fun that we have some talented young guards in a league that has historically been part of our program, US basketball,” said the Detroit legend.
With five months left until the start of international play, Hill and the entire United States management shifted into second gear to bring players to compete for gold in the Philippines.
The USA looks to bring in a more memorable run compared to the previous Fiba World Cup, where they did not reach the semi-finals.
With young American guards in the NBA causing havoc like Kyrie Irving, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young and Tyrese Haliburton to name a few, the possibilities for an impressive roster are endless.
“We’ve had good dialogue with some of the players we’ve targeted and like I said, they’ve been very receptive and in the last couple of weeks we’ve started to expand that (talk),” Hill said.
“With all that said and done, we will be in a position in June or early July to officially announce our team, roster and commitments.”
The 2019 Fiba World Cup will run from August 25 to September 10, with games held at venues such as the Mall of Asia Arena, Araneta Coliseum, Philippine Arena and Philsports Arena.
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