FILE – Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelican. –Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—The anticipation for the 2023 Fiba World Cup continues to build two months before the most prestigious basketball showcase tips off in Manila.
No one could be more giddy than avid Filipino NBA fans with Team USA’s star-studded roster starting to take shape.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, All-Stars Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans and Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies have committed to representing the United States in the World Cup.
Jackson, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and Ingram were the latest additions to Team USA, which has also reportedly drawn commitments from Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves, Brooklyn Nets’ Mikal Bridges and Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis.
Among all the names, the 25-year-old Reaves comes as the most surprising.
Reaves, however, earned his stripes with a breakout season in just his second year in the league, helping the Lakers make a deep postseason run.
The US, which is in Group C with Jordan, Greece and New Zealand playing at Mall of Asia Arena, seeks redemption after coming off a seventh place finish in the previous edition of the World Cup in China.
The Fiba World Cup takes place from August 25 to September 10 in several cities in Manila, Japan and Indonesia.