Miami Heat Filipino-American coach Erik Spoelstra during a basketball clinic conducted by USA Basketball. –ARNEL TACSON/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—With three days left before the opening game of Team USA for the 2023 Fiba World Cup, assistant coach Erik Spoelstra believes that the team is ready for competition.
Grouped with Jordan, New Zealand and Greece in Group C, the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team is complete, ready and willing to take on the challenge.
“We feel like we’re ready but we also understand how challenging it is,” bared Spoelstra during a basketball event hosted by USA Basketball in Taguig on Wednesday.
“These are the best countries in the world and it truly became a global game. The game now is in every region of the world and the popularity is incredible. I’m excited for our program.”
Despite not securing the commitments of top-tier talents like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant, the Americans are still the team to beat with a stacked roster.
Headlined by Minnesota young star Anthony Edwards, Team USA will have a star-studded backcourt with New York’s Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves.
The frontcourt of the Americans won’t be any joke either with talents like Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges, Utah’s Walker Kessler, Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. and Orlando’s Paolo Banchero all at the forefront.
Team USA will also have champion coaching roster Steve Kerr calling the shots with Spoelstra with Tyronn Lue, making the squad more formidable than expected.
Despite being technically the odds-on favorites, Spoelstra understands that the playing field is still even with the amount of talent in every country.
“It’s [World Cup] a big challenge. we’re up against countries who’ve been together for years. We’re trying to put together a team that’s relatively young, which is exciting for this group,” the Miami Heat tactician said.
“Our group is highly motivated and has a great spirit about them and the group understands that we have to do things together,” he added.