Grant Hill says Team USA excited to play in Philippines for Fiba World Cup
USA Basketball men’s national team managing director Grant Hill. –USAB WEBSITE
MANILA, Philippines—Despite not yet having a final roster for Team USA for the upcoming 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup, managing director Grant Hill said the entire organization is excited to compete in the Philippines.
Most of the possible players for USA is still tied up with the ongoing NBA season. But Hill is unfazed and optimistic about building a formidable squad for the World Cup hosted by the country in August.
“We’ve had tremendous amounts of contact, engagement, interaction and overall excitement in our outreach with players, agents, and representatives and various teams,” Hill said in an online media scrum.
“Everyone is very receptive and very excited about the possibility of representing the US in the 2023 Fiba world cup games in Manila, Philippines.”
Hill, an NBA veteran, also said that national team coach Steve Kerr is also excited to visit and compete in the host country for this year’s Fiba tournament.
“[There’s] a lot of excitement this summer as we make our way to the Philippines but certainly all of us, including coach Steve Kerr, the coaching staff and the players, we are all looking forward to this challenge.”
USA will be dealt with huge potential matchups in the 2023 iteration of the World Cup, including 2019 victors Spain and finalist Argentina.
‘GUARD PLAY ESSENTIAL’
FILE– 2021 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during a practice at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV as the team gets ready 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 in mind–get more guards who can step up to the plate.
“It’s a different game, no question. I think guard play is essential and it’s exciting that we do have some talented young guards in the league who historically have been part of our program, USA basketball,” the Detroit legend said.
With five months remaining until the start of the international showdown, Hill and the whole management of USA are shifting into second gear to bring in players to compete for Gold in the Philippines.
USA looks to bring in a more memorable run compared to the previous Fiba World Cup, where they did not even reach the semi-finals.
With young American guards in the NBA wreaking havoc like Kyrie Irving, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young and Tyrese Haliburton to name a few, the possibilities for a formidable roster are limitless.
“We’ve had great dialogues with some players that we’ve targeted and like I said, they have been very receptive and in recent weeks we’ve started to intensify those (talks),” said Hill.
“With it all said and done, we’d be in a position in June or early July to formally announce our team, roster and commitments.”
The 2019 Fiba World Cup will begin on August 25 to September 10, with games taking place at venues such as Mall of Asia Arena, Araneta Coliseum, Philippine Arena and Philsports Arena.
