De’Aaron Fox Elevated To Team USA Roster

Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has been elevated from Team USA’s Select Team squad to the preliminary World Cup roster, reports Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). Haynes adds that Fox has a “good chance” to make the final 12-man roster for the 2019 World Cup.

Fox had previously been one of 14 players who was on track to suit up for the Select Team, which will scrimmage against the primary Team USA roster at training camp in Las Vegas this week. However, his promotion to the main group makes sense, as Kemba Walker is the only healthy point guard who is a lock to make the 12-man roster. Kyle Lowry is still recovering from thumb surgery, while Donovan Mitchell and Marcus Smart aren’t really true point guards.

Here are the players who will represents Team USA for this week’s training camp at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center:

Main roster:

1. Bam Adebayo (Heat)
2. Harrison Barnes (Kings)
3. Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
4. De’Aaron Fox (Kings)
5. Kyle Kuzma (Lakers)
6. Brook Lopez (Bucks)
7. Kyle Lowry (Raptors)
8. Khris Middleton (Bucks)
9. Donovan Mitchell (Jazz)
10. Mason Plumlee (Nuggets)
11. Marcus Smart (Celtics)
12. Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
13. P.J. Tucker (Rockets)
14. Myles Turner (Pacers)
15. Kemba Walker (Celtics)
16. Thaddeus Young (Bulls)

Select Team:

1. Jarrett Allen (Nets)
2. Marvin Bagley III (Kings)
3. Mikal Bridges (Suns)
4. Jalen Brunson (Mavericks)
5. John Collins (Hawks)
6. Pat Connaughton (Bucks)
7. Torrey Craig (Nuggets)
8. Joe Harris (Nets)
9. Jonathan Isaac (Magic)
10. Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
11. Mitchell Robinson (Knicks)
12. Derrick White (Spurs)
13. Trae Young (Hawks)

According to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, it took more than 50 invitations for Team USA to ultimately set its training camp roster for the World Cup. In addition to featuring players like James Harden, Damian Lillard, and Anthony Davis – all of whom removed their names from consideration in recent weeks – that list of 50+ invitees probably also included the likes of LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who presumably declined to participate from the get-go.

Still, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo tells Reynolds that he doesn’t have any “angst” over the roster-building process — or about Team USA’s chances in next month’s event. According to Colangelo, he’s looking forward to seeing some of the new faces play roles in China.

“The focus has to be on who’s here — not who’s not here,” Colangelo said. “A number of the young players in this group have a chance, a real chance, some of them to make this team, some of them to make an impact in the World Cup.”