After four days of training camp before the FIBA World Cup, Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. was voted as the best player for Team USA.
Jackson, an NBA All-Star and the league’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, is projected to slot in the starting lineup. The big man is expected to play alongside Brandon Ingram, Mikal Bridges, Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson.
According to The Athletic, the end result “was a landslide” with Jackson chosen as the standout performer. Other players who received multiple votes included Brunson and Haliburton as well as Josh Hart.
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Team USA lost against the Select Team during one of the scrimmages in Las Vegas. But this reportedly also happened in 2019 before the Americans won the gold medal, too.
If his team is going to have similar success in this tournament, Jackson’s impact on both sides of the ball will play a massive role.
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