[ad_1] BEIJING -- A record 54 NBA players took part in the FIBA World Cup over the past 16 days, a true commitment with training camps scheduled to open in two weeks.The performance of the 12 who played for Team USA was well documented. Though Kemba Walker, Donovan Mitchell and a few others had some impressive moments, it wasn't a tournament to remember for those players.But there were some strong
[ad_1] On behalf of certified player agents, the National Basketball Players Association is sending a signed letter to the NCAA that refuses to submit to a proposed certification process to work with undergraduate men's basketball players "testing the waters" for the NBA draft.The NBPA has been communicating with NCAA officials in recent weeks about a way to work together, league sources tell ESPN. NBPA executive director Michele Roberts declined to
[ad_1] Top-five prospect Terrence Clarke announced his commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday afternoon, giving John Calipari his second top-50 pledge in three days and his fourth in the past two months.A 6-foot-7 small forward from Brewster Academy (New Hampshire), Clarke is ranked No. 4 in the 2021 class. However, he is expected to reclassify into the 2020 class, which would mean he could enroll at Kentucky for the
[ad_1] BEIJING -- After finishing seventh in the FIBA World Cup with a victory over Poland on Saturday, Team USA coach Gregg Popovich issued a rebuke for those criticizing his team for its worst-ever showing in a major event."Some people want to play the blame game, there's no blame to be placed anywhere," Popovich said. "They want to play the shame game, like we should be ashamed because we didn't
[ad_1] BEIJING -- Donovan Mitchell scored 16 points and handed out 10 assists, Joe Harris scored 14 and the U.S. defeated Poland 87-74 on Saturday for seventh place at the World Cup. Khris Middleton had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Americans, who will head home with a 6-2 record -- yet their worst placing ever in a World Cup, world championship as it used to be
[ad_1] BEIJING -- Kobe Bryant thinks Team USA might have to get used to a new reality of losing in major events.Bryant was part of likely the second-most relevant Team USA in history. After the original Dream Team in 1992, the Bryant-led 2008 "Redeem Team" that won gold in the Beijing Olympics is held in high esteem. He was at the start of a 58-game tournament winning streak for America
[ad_1] BEIJING -- After a huge clutch performance Friday, Marc Gasol has a chance to pull off the rare double of winning an NBA championship and a World Cup title in the same summer.Gasol scored 33 points and made four crucial free throws in Spain's 95-88 double overtime victory over Australia in the semifinals. After winning a ring with the Toronto Raptors in June, a victory Sunday over Argentina/France would
[ad_1] Despite the headline, it's no longer Way-Too-Early. College basketball games start in less than two months, and practices begin in less than two weeks -- meaning the season is basically here. We've done monthly Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25 rankings since the night Virginia beat Texas Tech in Minneapolis to win the national championship, but now it's real.So this is going to operate as the Top 25 until the next
[ad_1] DONGGUAN, China -- USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said Thursday that when the time comes to start assembling the 2020 Tokyo Olympics roster, he won't forget those who backed out of commitments to play in the World Cup this summer.Of the 35 players originally selected for the U.S. player pool, only four are in China for the FIBA World Cup. The U.S. lost to France in the quarterfinals,
[ad_1] The U.S. will leave the World Cup with its worst finish in a major international tournament, assured of finishing no better than seventh after falling to Serbia 94-89 in a consolation playoff game Thursday night.The previous worst finish for a U.S. men's team in 45 tournament appearances was sixth at the 2002 world championships. The Americans -- the top-ranked team in the world -- will finish either seventh or
