NBA executives poll: Who are the top breakout candidates for the 2023-24 season?

NBA executives predict who will be the top breakout players of the 2023-24 season in a poll by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Which players will make the biggest leaps in their games across the league?

HoopsHype polled 25 NBA executives to determine who will be the top breakout candidates this season. Each executive was asked to list his top three players who will have a breakout campaign.

Some executives voted for a younger player who’ll thrive with an increased role. Others voted for players on the cusp of becoming potential All-Stars for the first time.

Recent poll winners included Tyrese Maxey last season and Darius Garland the year before when he became an All-Star for the first time.

After receiving the feedback from the executives, the voting results were tabulated, with the top player receiving five points, the second receiving three points, and the third receiving one point for each ballot.

Ranking: The oldest NBA players in Team USA history

With rumors of LeBron James interested in joining Team USA for the Paris Olympics, we thought it would be nice to look back at the oldest players to suit up for USA Basketball. If he plays, James, who turns 39 at the end of this year, would be the …

With rumors of LeBron James interested in joining Team USA for the Paris Olympics, we thought it would be nice to look back at the oldest players to suit up for USA Basketball. If he plays, James, who turns 39 at the end of this year, would be the eldest player to compete for Team USA by a mile.

Take a look at the oldest players to represent the red, white, and blue.

(All ages at the start of FIBA tournaments).

What could Team USA look like at the 2024 Olympics?

HoopsHype predicts what guards, forwards and big men could represent Team USA Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Although the 2023 basketball World Cup was an exciting affair that saw Germany take home the gold medal for the first time in the country’s history, this was merely an appetizer before the main international basketball competition.

What we’re talking about, of course, is the Summer Olympics, which take place in 2024 in Paris.

Today, we’re going to discuss what Team USA might look like at the 2024 Olympics. What guards, forwards and big men are going to represent USA Basketball in Paris 2024? Might we see some roster carryover from this year’s World Cup roster to the Olympic roster?

After yet another extremely disappointing showing for the Americans at a FIBA World Cup, it could be time for changes in roster management strategies. Let’s dive in below.

Team USA: All their losses with NBA players

After losing to Lithuania 110-104, let’s take a look at all the 11 Team USA losses with NBA players in major FIBA tournaments, Olympic Games and World Cup.

Team USA losing to Lithuania at the World Cup is a surprise, but it doesn’t qualify as an outlandish event anymore. Since the United States started sending NBA players to major FIBA tournaments (Olympics or World Cup), they have lost 11 games… though they had never given up as many points (110) as they did against the Lithuanians.

Check out all the results below:

Bobby Portis: ‘I just come in every day and be Bobby Portis’

Milwaukee Bucks fan favorite Bobby Portis is only 28, but he will be the oldest player on Team USA at the 2023 World Cup. Dubbed ‘Crazy Eyes’, the stretch five took a break from shooting on the last day of training camp in Las Vegas to talk to …

Milwaukee Bucks fan favorite Bobby Portis is only 28, but he will be the oldest player on Team USA at the 2023 World Cup. Dubbed ‘Crazy Eyes’, the stretch five took a break from shooting on the last day of training camp in Las Vegas to talk to HoopsHype about his journey through his career, the opportunity to represent the USA, the upcoming season for the Bucks, and more.

Anthony Edwards: ‘If we get KAT for a whole season, we’ll be alright’

Anthony Edwards has only been in the league for three years, but he is validating why the Minnesota Timberwolves took him as their No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He has seen his numbers improve in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in …

Anthony Edwards has only been in the league for three years, but he is validating why the Minnesota Timberwolves took him as their No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He has seen his numbers improve in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in each of his three seasons, and has seen his efficiency dramatically go up.

All of that led to a new five-year, $260 million extension and an invitation to represent Team USA at the 2023 World Cup.

The ultimate goal was obvious to Edwards. “It’s to win,” Edwards told HoopsHype on Day 3. “But also to get better and be ready for the season.”

But things were not easy for Edwards and his teammates at the start of camp. On Day 2, the Select Team, which included players like Cade Cunningham, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Duren, upset the National Team in two 10-minute scrimmages that were open to the media.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

However, on Day 3, the scrimmages were different. The National Team came out more decisive and controlled both scrimmages against the Select Team.

“It’s pretty good here,” Edwards said after Day 3, which also coincided with his birthday. “We got the win today, so I think that answers it all. I feel like we’re sharing the ball a lot more. We want to see each other succeed.”

Edwards will most likely be tasked as the team’s No. 1 offensive go-to option as Team USA makes its way through the World Cup in the next couple of weeks. Since Edwards is most dominant when he has the ball in his hands, one of the biggest challenges for Edwards will be figuring out how he can be impactful in sharing the ball. As he mentioned, the team really started to gel once they started moving the ball side to side, looking for the open shooter.

France will likely be one of the teams that stands in the Americans’ way of winning the World Cup. After all, it was France who beat the USA in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, ending a 25-game Olympic winning streak for the red, white, and blue.

Edwards’ Timberwolves teammate, Rudy Gobert, is one of the pillars of the French team that bested the USA. Earlier this summer, Edwards had told the Star-Tribune that he planned to train with Gobert in France. He provided an update about that on his birthday.

“I didn’t get time to go out there because when I was supposed to go out there with Rudy, I had like a week and a half,” Edwards told HoopsHype. “I had to come here so it was just like man, I’m not worried about you.”

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Timberwolves were also able to resign Naz Reid, who was on the Select Team, and one of Edwards’ best friends in Minnesota. Edwards admitted the front office talked to him before Reid resigned from the club.

“I loved it, that’s my dog,” Edwards said about Reid’s new deal. “I love every bit of it.”

Mike Conley’s addition to the team added a jolt to their starting lineup, especially Gobert’s production. Conley’s ability to play within himself and not turn the ball over too much is also something Edwards has been learning.

“Mike Conley was great,” Edwards said about his teammates’ impact. “He’s a great catch-and-shoot guy [for us]. He’s just a vet man, so we just needed that presence.”

D’Angelo Russell maybe provided a higher ceiling on a game-to-game basis, but Conley was the veteran who knew his role and was not going to lose games for his team with his 4.3 assist-to-turnover ratio, ranked No. 6 amongst all NBA players last season.

For the upcoming Timberwolves season, Edwards expects the team to achieve more than what they’ve done the past two years of losing in the first round. “I expect us to be hungrier, play with a little bit more grit. Play harder, go out there, and give it our all, that’s the main thing.”

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The team will see Karl-Anthony Towns back in the fold after missing 51 games with his right calf injury this past season. A lot of reservations have been brought up about Towns’ fit with Gobert, but Edwards doesn’t seem too worried.

“I think if we get KAT for a whole season, we’ll be alright.”

Austin Reaves: ‘I really just bet on myself and knew that I just needed an opportunity’

Lakers guard Austin Reaves sat down with HoopsHype after Day 4 in Las Vegas with Team USA in a wide-ranging conversation to talk about everything from his new deal to the current roster construction of the Lakers.

Austin Reaves was a revelation for the Lakers, raising his profile as a third option for the purple and gold during their playoff run this past season. His stellar play in his second NBA season landed him a team-friendly four-year extension worth $56 million and a spot on the USA National Team for the 2023 World Cup.

Reaves chopped it up with HoopsHype after Day 4 of camp in Las Vegas in a wide-ranging conversation to talk about everything from his new deal to the current roster construction of the Lakers.

NBA players who never lost with Team USA

Unlike in the last couple of major FIBA tournaments, the 2019 World Cup and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Team USA used to go undefeated in international play. As such, there are various players with long triumphant runs while playing for the red, white and …

Unlike in the last couple of major FIBA tournaments, the 2019 World Cup and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Team USA used to go undefeated in international play.

As such, there are various players with long triumphant runs while playing for the red, white and blue.

However, none of them top Jason Kidd‘s 46-game unbeaten streak while representing his country.

Below, check out the NBA players who never lost as members of Team USA.

Note: For this exercise we took into account competition games in the Olympic Games, World Cup, FIBA Americas tournament and PanAm Games. Only players with at least 15 wins listed.

Team USA receives commitment from Treveon Graham

NBA veteran Treveon Graham has committed to play for Team USA in the AmeriCup qualifying tournament, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports.

Four-year NBA veteran Treveon Graham has committed to play for Team USA in the AmeriCup qualifying tournament Feb. 19-20 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, league sources told HoopsHype.

Graham, 27, has played for the Hornets, Nets, Timberwolves, and Hawks during his four-year career. He last played in the NBA with the Hawks in March 2020 and is known as a defensive player who can guard the one through four positions on the floor.

Graham is the fifth known player to commit to Team USA for the AmeriCup qualifying tournament. Former Nets first-round pick Josh Boone committed Friday, which was also reported by HoopsHype. The duo joins former All-Stars Joe Johnson and Isaiah Thomas, and former 76ers two-way player Dakota Mathias.

You can follow Michael Scotto on Twitter: @MikeAScotto