OT: 2018-2020 USA Basketball Men's National Team - 2020 (2021) Tokyo Olympics Updated Schedule, Page 13

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Notice one name that stands out in the group for Spurs fans - Derrick has been chosen to the select team!:

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Derrick played last summer and said he enjoyed his experience and grew as a player. Congratulations, Derrick! This is a wonderful growth opportunity for him, and an honour to represent his country.

DERRICK WHITE NAMED TO USA BASKETBALL SELECT TEAM

USA Basketball today announced that Spurs guard Derrick White has been named to the Men’s Select Team. White will be part of the 13-man USA Basketball Select Team that will train daily from Aug. 5-8 at UNLV's Mendenhall Center with the USA National Team, led by Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.

White was previously part of the 2018 USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team, where he started both games and averaged 9.5 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.50 steals in 20.5 minutes while helping the team go 2-0. Entering his third season with the Spurs, White averaged 9.9 points, 3.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 25.8 minutes while starting 55 games for San Antonio last season.

"The purpose of the Select Team is to help prepare our National Team for the World Cup and to offer an opportunity for some younger NBA standouts to be involved in the USA Basketball National Team program," said USA Basketball Men's National Team Managing Director Colangelo. "These 13 players help extend the legacy of elite players who have been part of USA Basketball Select teams. Not only will this group help prepare the United States for the FIBA World Cup, but it will also provide them with valuable experience at the USA Basketball National Team level."

The Select Team members also will join with the National Team players and participate in the USA Blue versus USA White exhibition game that is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT) on Aug. 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

https://www.nba.com/spurs/news/derrick-white-named-usa-basketball-select-team

The Select Team will be coached by Jeff Van Gundy.

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Good Bam!:

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Right then, adding Drummond to the lame list as he's also pulled out according to this source (which cites USA Basketball), while Jaren Jackson, Jr. is on the cool list as he is on the USA Select Team.

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So as things stand right now, this is the roster for Team USA that will participate in training camp:

The 16-member USA National Team training camp roster and the 14-member USA Select Team will open training camp Aug. 5 at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center. Daily practices will be held Aug. 5-8 and will be capped by a USA Blue-USA White exhibition game that is scheduled for Aug. 9 (7 p.m. PDT) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which will feature members of the World Cup training and USA Select teams. For game ticket information visit usab.com/mnttickets

USA National Team members expected at the World Cup training camp in addition to Adebayo include: Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings); Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics); Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers); Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks); Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors); Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks); Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz); Mason Plumlee (Denver Nuggets), Julius Randle (New York Knicks); Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics); Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics); P.J. Tucker (Houston Rockets); Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers); Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics); and Thaddeus Young (Chicago Bulls).

The 14-man USA Basketball Select Team includes Jarrett Allen (Brooklyn Nets); Marvin Bagley III (Sacramento Kings); Mikal Bridges (Phoenix Suns); Jalen Brunson (Dallas Mavericks); John Collins (Atlanta Hawks); Pat Connaughton (Milwaukee Bucks); De’Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings); Joe Harris (Brooklyn Nets); Jonathan Isaac (Orlando Magic); Jackson; Mitchell Robinson (New York Knicks); Landry Shamet (Los Angeles Clippers/Wichita State); Derrick White (San Antonio Spurs); and Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks).

Following the Las Vegas camp, selected team finalists will take a short break and will reassemble in Los Angeles to train Aug. 13-15 and play an exhibition contest versus FIBA’s No. 2 world ranked team, Spain, at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Aug. 16.

The official, 12-member roster for the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s World Cup Team will be announced on Aug. 17.

The American squad will continue its World Cup preparations Aug. 19-24 in Melbourne, Australia, and play a pair of exhibition games versus Australia on Aug. 22 and Aug. 24 at Marvel Stadium. The USA will complete its pre-World Cup tour Aug. 25-28 in Sydney, Australia. Slated to conduct training Aug. 25, 27 and 28, the U.S. will close out its exhibition tour on Aug. 26 facing Canada at Qudos Bank Arena. For game ticket information visit usab.com/mnttickets.

https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2019/08/mnt-wc-training-roster-add-august-1.aspx

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Add another name to the lame list:

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On the positive side, love hearing the genuine enthusiasm from players chosen:

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One of the advantages coming to light from first invitees withdrawing is new guys getting the chance to suit up for their country who perhaps otherwise may not have, and seeing just how much it means to them.

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Uugh my eyes can't roll back any farther. Is Randle preparing for a deep run or something? If playing for your country inexplicably has less pull, then when will these young guys realize that doing so actually helps their careers? 21PPG sitting at home instead, Jesus Christ. Ass. Add him to the lame list. Torrey Craig replaces Shamet on the Select Team:

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Looks like Team USA will need to add a C now. Hopefully there's a guy out there who can rise to the honour and commitment.

May everyone on Team USA stay healthy and flourish.

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Ok, on to some positivity!:

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It's here! The first practice in Las Vegas (5-8-2019):

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Pop, Will, and Derrick repping the Spurs:

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Will in a familiar role; Pop in fine form:

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Gold!

EDIT to add:

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Practice 1, Las Vegas:

Summary, Part I

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I love reading about the details of practice. Next best thing to getting to be there and watching:

USA Men’s World Cup Team Hopefuls Hit the Ground Running in Vegas
Day one featured scrimmages and hard-fought battles as head coach Gregg Popovich put the players through their paces

Assistant coaches Steve Kerr and Lloyd Pierce led half of the players on one side of half court, while Popovich and assistant coach Jay Wright manned the remaining players on the adjacent half court. An assortment of penetrate-and-kick sets were run by Kerr and Pierce, while Popovich extensively coached his group on how to defend the pick and roll. At different points during these five-minute drills, some players would focus on hitting open free throws at other baskets.

After the players switched up, and participated in all the different drills, a scrimmage between the blue and white team transpired. Both sides were raining 3s, as Fox showed his signature hot wheels as he glided to the rack for silky finishes. The gray team managed to pull out a 20-19 victory with competitive juices going back and forth.... After the loss, the blue team lined up on the sidelines, while Middleton drilled two free throws to avoid running suicides for the rest of his blue team.

More five-minute drills occurred after the initial scrimmage — with different players popping out for a corner 3, or running to the corner for a catch and shoot. Kerr and Pierce held inbound drills from the baseline for either a slasher going to the cup or a pass to the weak side for a corner three. A five-on-five drill where defensive players were forced to switch on screens decisively helped the mobility of big foot players like Lopez and Plumlee.

Practice ran longer than originally anticipated as they decided to run one more scrimmage to wrap up the first day of practice.

This second scrum felt more intense and physical. Both sides were pushing the pace, diving for the ball, and tussling for rebounds. The most noteworthy play was when Turner made an off-balance jumper from the right corner tying the game at 21, with a free throw to go ahead. After Turner nailed the free throw, Popovich jumped in and stopped the scrimmage. The future Hall of Famer coached up guys boxing out for rebounds. It was easy to imagine moments like these having a lasting effect on the cohesiveness of the team.

Middleton summed up that instance best.

“It’s all about coaching,” he said. “It’s a whole different set of (FIBA) rules he’s trying to explain to us. That’s what it’s all about. Everyone respects Pop as a coach. He’s one of the greatest of all time, so every time he opens his mouth, we all want to listen....”

From what stayed with him from last summer’s mini-camp, Middleton thought it was vital to not compete against one another, but instead compete as a group.

“Just knowing what to expect, about how it’s not about your NBA selfish lives — welcome everyone here. We’re all on the same team now, we’re all competing for one goal.”

https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2019/08/mnt-day-1.aspx/0098

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Practice 1, Las Vegas:

Summary, Part II

I love the central message being instilled from the first meeting and throughout all the details in practice. It's a foundation on which the game building blocks and team bonding are created.

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2019 USA Basketball Men’s National Team Quotes

Jerry Colangelo (USA National Team managing director)
On the talent at the camp, despite the athletes who dropped out, and looking forward to showing people that this is not a transitional year:
I do. I’ve said that we’re going to be fine and by that what I really meant is that we’re blessed with a lot of depth in USA Basketball. All of the players here want to be here, there’s no question about it. And that’s a big part of the battle itself. And so, when you look at the enthusiasm, the youth, the athleticism and versatility, that’ll really work well for us because our depth will be a factor.

USA head coach Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)
It was a high energy and spirited day of practice.
This is a wonderful group. I thought they were very excited. Very upbeat and played very well on the first day after summertime. I was impressed with the group.

This team has evolved a lot more a bit over the last month and what has that been like? 
I don’t even worry about that. I only care about who is here. I’ve got a fine group of guys and we are going to try and get them to form the best possible team we can....

Something you’ve talked to them about? Brought up today?
We already brought it up last night. It’s our responsibility to not only become the best team we can be but it’s the way we conduct ourselves and the USA on our shirt is what it’s all about. It’s beyond the Hawks and the Spurs and the Clippers and so on. That takes a backseat to this because we are representing a lot of people and we have a huge responsibility not only for the country, to do this in a classy manner, but to continue the success that USA Basketball has had for the last 12 years. That’s a big responsibility.

Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers)
On playing for USA head coach Gregg Popovich:
He’s my favorite coach of all time. Growing up, I’m a hoops junkie, watching a lot of the Spurs teams and he’s won. He’s won at every level he’s been at. So, to be here and learn, to be around him, it’s really great.

What are you hoping to learn here from Pop?
A little bit of everything. He’s been around the game for years and years and years, so I want to be a sponge. Not just Pop, we have Jay Wright here, Steve Kerr, so many great coaches. To learn from everyone is going to help me out tremendously....

Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics)
How did you feel when you got the call to come and be a part of this?
I know it’s cliché, but every athlete always dreams of representing their country and representing something bigger than themselves. We’re all here and we’re all blessed to get that call. We’re just happy to be here, and it’s a good feeling.

What are your goals for this week, both as an individual and as a team?
First, I want to make the team. And two, to show the different aspect that people probably don’t see from me, individually, and from each other. We’re not big-time name guys, a lot of us. And we understand that. Guys are seeing all these other guys dropping out and … we want to go out there and prove everyone wrong.

Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)
Why was it important for you to wear this USA jersey?
It’s all about representing your country. Not a lot of people get to put on these three letters and play a sport. To be here is a huge accomplishment and an honor.

https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2019/08/mnt-quotes-aug-5.aspx

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Practice 2, Las Vegas (6-8-2019):

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The Select Team scrimmaged against Team USA today:

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Off to a slow start for the Select Team, but it's not where you start, but where and how you finish:

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But Derrick is starting to turn heads with his great play:

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Practice 2, Las Vegas:

Summary

Intense Scrimmages Test National and Select Team Players on Day 2 of Training Camp
USA players competed hard but teaching and building chemistry remains the ultimate goal for coaches

... Gregg Popovich, who started practice with full court drills of the no-dribble fast break drill — in which four players run a fast break without dribbling the ball for a finish at the rim.

The National Team soon moved onto a one-on-one full-court defensive drill, where the offensive player dribbled the length of the court against a defender full court to convert the possession. These drills seemed to be warm-up exercises in preparation for the upcoming hard-nosed scrimmages later on.

Similar to Day 1, two different sets of ten-minute drills were established on two ends of bordering half courts.

Assistant coaches Steve Kerr and Lloyd Pierce led one set of drills in a full court system with five players moving the ball decisively around the perimeter, setting up the most probable highly efficient shot, then a missed shot and rebound would set the five guys trekking to the other end to enact the same drill.

Court coach Ime Udoka led a half court set in a five-on-five matchup, where they never switched from offense to defense. Through a combination of pick and roll and threading the needle for shooters, Udoka would occasionally stop the drill to comment on certain things that players on either side of the ball could improve on....

At times, both of these drills relied on players to help each other out by communicating and calling out switches and movements. This in part can only build the camaraderie and cohesiveness that the team needs heading to China.

Towards the conclusion of the ten-minute set, the Select Team started arriving at the Mendenhall Center and awaited instructions on scrimmages against the National Team.

Broken out in front of NBA player personnel and coaches, a group of seven or eight guys from the National Team roster matched up against the Select Team. Kerr and assistant coach Jay Wright continued to do an assortment of drills with the remaining players on the National Team who had not participated in the specific scrimmage on the other side of the gym....

The National Team players from the first scrimmage came back for the third duo with Plumlee and Barnes starting instead of Tucker and Lopez. Select Team coach Jeff Van Gundy bought back the same starting five as the second scrimmage. With Van Gundy barking orders like an intense international FIBA game, his Select squad played within themselves and, led by Young, played a more up-tempo, free-flowing style that made for an entertaining scrimmage. Similar to yesterday, with about 43 seconds left, Pop stopped the game plan and coached about being more assertive, popping out behind the perimeter for open threes. Again, the National Team managed to hold off the pesky Select Team for a 17-14 win.

After going down the previous three scrimmages, the Select Team seemed more focused and hungrier to finally come out on top with at least one. The starters from the second scrimmage made up the same with Kuzma and Young headed to the bench for Brown and Adebayo. Whether it was the Select Team finally clicking after more than 30 minutes of pure scrimmaging or the conditioning of some of the National Team players by this point, Young closed out the scrimmages with a step back jumper to lead his team to a win over the National Team.

https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2019/08/mnt-day-2.aspx

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Practice 2, Las Vegas:

Quotes

The Select Team by all accounts has opened eyes with its competitive play. The style of play being instilled is familiar to Spurs fans, a competitive .5, team-oriented, defense-centred system that guys are buying into.

2019 USA Basketball Men’s National Team Quotes

USA head coach Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)

How much did yesterday help to see this team live yesterday?
Just seeing the bodies on the court is what’s important. Seeing how they fit together. The select team today was great. They were pretty fired up and they did their job and what they were supposed to do. A good lesson for our team but that’s why they’re here. To get after us and to play hard and do what they did today. We got a chance to look at a lot of players. Both the 16 that we have and all the select guys. There were some people on the select team that stepped up and did a very good job.

Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings)

What did you guys see from the select team?
I think you have to give coach Van Gundy credit. He has really been working with the select team guys to simulate some of the action we are going to see and the young guys have done a great job. They came out here and played the right way and they showed some looks that we are going to see. So I think it was a good test for us to see and understand that the international game is very different from the NBA game...

Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)

Are you getting familiar with the FIBA game’s rule differences?
Yes, there is a lot. Knocking the ball off the rim, no 3 seconds, physicality and a shorter 3 point line there is a lot that goes into it.

Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics)

Is this training camp creating more opportunities for the younger players?
I think so. It’s giving a lot of guys a chance to kind of make a name for themselves. This is huge. This is Team USA basketball. This is something as a basketball player you want to do growing up. I’ve always wanted to be a part of this.

You guys know each other, but being teammates with all these guys and having to forge these relationships so quickly.
Pop talks about how this team has the fall in love with each other real real fast. How do you go about doing that in basically a week and a half?

I thinks it’s mostly off the court. On the court is pretty easy. I think we will get that. I think off the court is what we have to figure out and spend more time with each other and communicate more and just have fun with each other. Like Pop said just love each other because it has to translate to on the court if we want to do something special with this team.

https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2019/08/mnt-quotes-aug-6.aspx

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Practice 3, Las Vegas (7-8-2019), otherwise known as the Pop and Derrick get lots of attention day.

A special guest arrived whose knowledge is still being tapped into:

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Lots of love on social media about Pop stretching and warming up with the players, and putting in more effort:

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The Select Team once again scrimmaged against Team USA, and Derrick once again stood out with his poise and expanding game which is providing instant impact both ends:

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Defense to offense:

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Assists - his pace - so within himself as the game has slowed down for him, vision, and decision making is improving:

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Offense - variety of outside shots, floaters in his spots, physical drives:

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It's becoming hard to keep him a secret:

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Practice 3, Las Vegas:

Highlights

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Photos
Pop & Derrick at USABMNT Training Camp





More photos here: https://www.nba.com/spurs/gallery/pop-derrick-usabmnt-training-camp



And here: https://www.usab.com/basketball/media/galleries/2019/08/mnt-aug-7-practice.aspx


Summary

Day 3 of National Team Training Camp Sees Intensity Remain High While Team Chemistry Continues to Develop
Coach K Stops By As Men’s National Team Training Camp Moves Into Day 3

Some notable faces showed up to watch the USA Basketball Men’s National Team on the third day of its pre-World Cup training camp Wednesday at the Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus. Among the visitors was former USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski and some members of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, including USA Women National Team member Kelsey Plum and Australia's Liz Cambage.

The practice opened with new U.S. coach Gregg Popovich participating in warm up stretches that included squats, shoulder stretches, calf stretches and others. The team then moved into a five-minute full-court set with three offensive players passing and running down the floor, with one person finishing at the rim. The two non-shooters received a baseline pass to take a catch-and-shoot wing three pointer.

Next the team broke out into four half-court sets, with players rotating every five minutes.

Assistant coach Ime Udoka led a group of players in post-up drills at the top of the key, with the offensive player improving to either shoot over the defender or go around him. On the other side of the court, assistant coach Jay Wright led a group in a two-on-two drill. The focus was on the pick-and-roll action, with Wright coaching the players on how to either attack the defense offensively or counter on defense.

Running adjacent to Wright’s drill, assistant coach Steve Kerr worked through different plays out of the five-out motion offense. Assistant coach Lloyd Pierce ran his drills across from Kerr. While three players moved the ball around the perimeter, four defenders played a match-up zone defense, where the on-ball defender would play tight while his teammates behind him would deliver a help-side man-to-man defense, thus confusing the offensive players.

Towards the end of this roughly 20-minute drill, the Select Team started to arrive at Mendenhall to square off for another day of scrimmages with the National Team. Unlike Tuesday’s scrimmages, no other drills were held on the other side of the gym as all of the National Team players took part in the three scrimmages.

“I think the Select Team has been really special,” Lopez said. “Just coming out and giving their all each and every game. They really gave it to us yesterday, and they haven’t backed down. That’s going to be huge game helping us prepare for the World games.”

Outside of the two draws, the two elder statesmen on the roster, Plumlee and Lopez, noticed the changes from today’s scrimmages compared to yesterdays.

“There’s a willingness to do what the coaches want, so there was a little hesitation yesterday,” Plumlee said. “Today I think guys were playing more free, just being aggressive, attacking, a little more pick and roll on offense, but we’ll get better day by day.”

“We just came out with a right mentality,” Lopez added. “We realize what happened yesterday and we came out just trying to be more aggressive, be tougher, and not make things as easy for them.”

https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2019/08/mnt-day-3.aspx

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Practice 3, Las Vegas:

Quotes

2019 USA Basketball Men’s National Team Quotes

USA head coach Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)

What is it like to look around today and have Coach K here…. And Spencer Haywood (1968 Olympic gold medalist)!
There are just so many basketball minds in this room. What has this experience been like for you?

We were anxious to get Coach K into town and spend a couple of days. I’ve already talked to him, as you might imagine, and gotten advice. But to have him here see this scrimmage and we can go back, and I’ll talk about what we think needs to happen. Having him here to have that added experience is invaluable. There is a lot of basketball people here. I’m learning a lot every day. You get to listen to all these guys and we make decisions.

What’s the balance right now between installing, getting a team ready to play and alongside that constant evaluation process and figuring out who belongs out here?
They have to happen simultaneously. The guys deserve that. The guys wanted to be here. They came. They deserve to have us evaluate properly and give them enough time to show what they can do. But at the same time, we’re looking to see if they can fit in to what the team will have to do in a short period of time to play teams that have been together a very long time and execute so well. Both dynamics have to happen at the same time.

USA assistant coach Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors)

Through these three days, have you seen where tough decisions will have to be made to pare down the roster? Where do you think the toughest decisions will have to be made?
They’re all tough, all tough. There’s a roster full of guys that are really good players, or they wouldn’t be here. Cutting players is always hard, even in a training camp. Every year we bring guys into camp who we know are who we know aren’t going to make the team, and they know they aren’t going to make the team. Yet to sit down with them and say this is it, it’s brutal.

We’re going to have to do that with a handful of players here and it’s going to be even more difficult because they’ve all cut time out of their summers to come here and try to play for their country. Everyone wants to be part of it, but we can only take twelve, so it’s going to be tough.

Before Sunday, how much prep did the coaches do together as a staff?
We met in San Antonio about a month ago at the coaches’ meetings and talked about stuff.

What kind of preparation was that? More about style of play?
Everything, everything. What kind of player we were looking for, what our roster was shaping up to be, the difference with International and FIBA rules, what our roles were going to be for the staff, and we’ve all be in contact since then with calls and texts. So, we got a good head start before we got here and we had time on Saturday and Sunday to get everything squared away as well.

De’Aaron Fox (USA Select Team) (Sacramento Kings)

How’s it going so far?
Played with more pace today, which is something coach has been on me about. Playing with pace and getting into the paint, making guys come and help and be able to create for others....

When you were told you’d be moving off the USA Select Team to the USA National Team, what was your reaction?
Definitely grateful. It was an honor to be one of the guys to move up and I want to take full advantage of it....

Jaren Jackson Jr. (USA Select Team) (Memphis Grizzlies)

How much are you learning from Jeff Van Gundy?
You learn that mentality is half the battle. You can’t really go into anything with a soft mentality and little things really do matter. The little things that you do and the habits that you build really translate over to the game, so you want to make sure you do them in practice so in the game it comes easy....

Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics)

Over the past couple days have you guys had any bonding moment? I know you spoke about how important it is to mesh off the court.
We eat together right after practice. We ride the bus together. We are always talking and trying our best to try and learn each other as much as possible. Especially out here we are constantly communicating and trying to get better each and every day.

https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2019/08/mnt-quotes-aug-7.aspx

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Practice 4, Las Vegas (8-8-2019):

Arrivals

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Photos

The team was addressed by USA Basketball Chairman Martin Dempsey prior to practice. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

More here: https://www.usab.com/basketball/media/galleries/2019/08/mnt-aug-8-practice.aspx

Guest Dawn Staley, HoF player (WNBA and Olympics, winning three gold medals) and coach (NCAA and the current USA Women's National Team), attended practice

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