Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com was surprised when De’Aaron Fox pulled out of international competition, as he explains in a collaborate piece with ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. Leading up to Fox’s departure, many reports had him as one of the best players at Team USA’s functions and Windhorst writes that Fox would have been a lock to make the team.
Here’s more from the ESPN piece as well as other notes concerning Team USA:
- Did Fox leave because he was worried that coach Gregg Popovich would select Spurs guard Derrick White over him? Windhorst doesn’t believe so. White may make the team but it’ll be because of his exceptional play rather than any preferential treatment.
- Donovan Mitchell has been the most impressive player at USA Basketball functions, Youngmisuk contends (same piece). Mitchell is treating the FIBA World Cup as not just an opportunity to win the tournament but to advance his game and position himself for a roster spot on next year’s Olympics team.
- P.J. Tucker, who recently dropped out of competition for USA Basketball, was a near-lock to make the roster, as Kelly Iko of The Athletic relays. Team USA Teammate Khris Middleton was surprised that the veteran decided to leave the team. “Yeah, we were very surprised,” Middleton said. “But, you know, P.J. is a great player. A tough guy, a vet, that’s been around this league, been around this world, and is experienced. He’s a tough player.”
People who don’t watch the Rockets regularly don’t know what a great player PJ Tucker really is. Looking at his career numbers he doesn’t look like much, but he is one of the best defenders in the NBA right now. It’s always funny watching nationally televised games when he will sometimes move to center and the announcers always think that there is a huge mismatch when a 6’6″ guy like Tucker is guarding the likes of KAT or Jokic but he always manages to hold his own against them.
Pretty sure anyone that’s a REAL fan of basketball knows PJ Tucker is an incredibly tough defender, and he’s consistently been underrated all throughout his career.
Even so, it’s nice he’s been finally getting some of the media and national recognition he so well deserves the past couple years.
He’s truly earned it, he might not be an all-star, but he is definitely a great teammate, a good leader, a tireless worker, and he is a key piece that every contender would love to have..
Too bad for PJ he decided to bounce to Houston instead of re-upping with the Raptors. Could’ve had a ring by now.
Can someone explain to me why is the word “functions” in “Team USA’s functions” and “USA basketball functions”?
Functions, is just another word for events..
They use functions just because they want to include ALL of Team USA’s on-court activities, which they’ve done a lot of.
So, Windhorst was basically just saying that Fox was consistently one of the top players whenever Team USA hit the court, whether it be a scrimmage, practice, an exhibition, etc.
Hope that helps clear up everything for you…
Thanks!
Social events, such as roller skating parties and dinners with the trade minister of Bhutan.
Parties, bro