Tag: USA Basketball

Khaman Maluach, South Sudan basketball come within a point of beating Team USA

Khaman Maluach, the incoming Duke freshman and presumed 2025 lottery pick, nearly helped South Sudan upset Team USA in a Saturday exhibition.

[autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag] and South Sudan nearly pulled off the upset of the summer during a Saturday exhibition game against Team USA.

During a friendly match in London ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games, the United States needed to pull out a miraculous 101-100 victory over the South Sudan national team.

Maluach, a member of Duke’s hyped 2024 recruiting class and a presumed lottery pick in next year’s NBA draft, scored seven points in 12 minutes off of the bench. He made three of his four attempts from the floor, pulled down three rebounds, blocked a shot, and even made a 3-pointer to tease his shot-making ceiling.

The future Blue Devil made an impression as early as he could with a breakaway dunk in the opening quarter.

The U.S. actually trailed in the final half-minute of the game before four-time NBA champion LeBron James drove his way to the basket for the go-ahead layup during the final 10 seconds.

Despite Maluach making an appearance during the exhibition and playing for South Sudan in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, he’s not listed on the official men’s national team roster online, implying that he won’t make the trip to Paris for the Olympic Games.

Marina Mabrey, Kayla McBride compete in WNBA All-Star events

Did you watch?

Notre Dame had some representation to tip off WNBA All-Star festivities over the next couple of days. Two of the three events held Friday in Phoenix featured that representation. Regrettably, it didn’t result in any hardware.

[autotag]Marina Mabrey[/autotag], who was traded from the Chicago Sky at her request earlier this week to the Connecticut Sun, competed in the Skills Challenge, the evening’s first event. You can’t see it that well in the video, but she fumbled a couple of times towards the end, costing her precious time:

The fumbles proved costly as she missed out on the final by two tenths of a second. All she could at that point was look to the 3-Point Contest, but she scored a contest-low 19 points:

Fellow former Irish standout [autotag]Kayla McBride[/autotag] of the Minnesota Lynx came right after her and scored enough points to stay alive:

However, she also didn’t advance to the final, so that was it for Notre Dame fans for the evening. The Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray wound up winning both events, becoming the first player to do so on the same night.

McBride and [autotag]Arike Ogunbowale[/autotag] will compete with the rest of the WNBA All-Stars in the All-Star Game on Saturday. They’ll be up against the U.S. Olympic team featuring [autotag]Jackie Young[/autotag] and [autotag]Jewell Loyd[/autotag].

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

LOOK: Former Badgers practice with USA Men’s National Team in Abu Dhabi, UAE

LOOK: Former Badgers practice with USA Men’s National Team in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Former Wisconsin basketball stars Nigel Hayes-Davis and Micah Potter have wrapped up their stint in Abu Dhabi, UAE with the USA Men’s Basketball Team prior to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

The team will now venture to London, England for an exhibition match against South Sudan on July 20 at 2:00 p.m. central. Hayes-Davis and Potter have been practicing with the team since the team’s training camp commenced in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 6.

Despite seeing minutes in previous exhibition games, the former Badgers are not members of the 12-man Men’s National Team. They, alongside USA Basketball veteran Langston Galloway, are members of the 2024 USA Select Team responsible for helping the Olympic-bound crew ramp up for the upcoming event.

Still, both Hayes-Davis and Potter have been consistently practicing alongside LeBron James, Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis and Devin Booker. Kevin Durant is also a member of this group but is currently sidelined due to injury.

Potter, a Badger from 2019-21, has made two three-pointers in exhibition matches against Canada and Serbia thus far.

He and Hayes-Davis will continue to work on their crafts with prospects of inking an NBA contract. Potter plays for the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate, while Hayes-Davis hoops overseas in the Turkish League.

The best photos from Jayson Tatum’s first Olympic appearance in Tokyo

Jayson Tatum will compete for a second gold medal in Paris. Here are the best photos from his first Olympic run in Tokyo three years ago.

[autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag] keeps making more statements as to where he stands on the pantheon of former Duke men’s basketball players.

He joined an elite list of former Blue Devils with an NBA championship on their resume after the Boston Celtics dispatched the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. He made the All-NBA First Team squad for the third straight season, the only Duke player with multiple such honors on his resume.

Now, he’s gearing up for his second run at Olympic gold with Team USA. After he won a gold medal in Tokyo three summers ago, he’s set to play for the American squad again. He actually started for the United States team during a Wednesday exhibition game against Serbia.

More than a dozen Blue Devils have represented their country in the Olympic Games, but none have multiple gold medals on their resume. Can Tatum set another Duke benchmark?

Here are the best photos from his time in Tokyo three summers ago.

FIBA refs hilariously had no interest in Joel Embiid’s attempt at drawing a foul call on Nikola Jokić

This isn’t the NBA anymore.

On paper, the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team should cruise through the Summer Games in Paris. But the games aren’t played on paper, and the international game is decidedly different from the NBA. That includes how the games are officiated.

That’s part of the adjustment that comes with these pre-Olympic showcase exhibitions for the USABMNT. And for Joel Embiid, the officiating will take some getting used to.

Last season, Embiid averaged 11.6 free-throw attempts per game, which would have put him atop the NBA if he qualified statistically. And to Embiid’s credit, he knows how to work NBA officiating in his own favor. That didn’t exactly work in Wednesday’s showcase matchup with Serbia as Embiid tried to get a soft foul called on Nikola Jokić. FIBA refs were having none of it.

Rather than going up towards the basket, Embiid looked to initiate contact with Jokić before moving into his actual shot attempt.

The ref was not falling for that at all. He just stood there as Embiid essentially wasted a scoring opportunity.

Fans actually enjoyed seeing how FIBA refs didn’t fall for the foul baiting.

This was how Twitter/X reacted

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Jayson Tatum earns spot in Team USA starting five for Wednesday exhibition against Serbia

The United States men’s basketball team takes on Serbia for a Wednesday exhibition, and Duke’s Jayson Tatum made the starting five.

Former Duke basketball star [autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag]’s dream summer got a little better on Wednesday afternoon.

The United States men’s basketball team, with one eye on this summer’s 2024 Olympic Games, played the Serbian national team in an exhibition game. Team USA announced its starting five ahead of the competition, and Tatum got the nod as one of the first five Americans on the floor.

He joined four-time NBA champions LeBron James and Steph Curry, former NBA MVP Joel Embiid, and Boston Celtics teammate Jrue Holiday in the opening lineup.

Tatum would assuredly call 2023-24 the best season of his NBA career, winning his first career title while earning a third straight All-NBA First Team nomination in the process. He broke the league record for most playoff points scored before a player’s 27th birthday and led the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists for their playoff run, the sixth NBA player to accomplish that feat.

Tatum already picked up a few highlights during an exhibition against Canada when he whirled past NBA finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a bucket. He’s looking for a second straight gold medal after winning one in Tokyo during the previous Olympics.

LOOK: Wisconsin Badger greats train with USA Basketball, NBA’s biggest stars

LOOK: Wisconsin Badger greats train with USA Basketball, NBA’s biggest stars

Former Wisconsin basketball greats Nigel Hayes-Davis and Micah Potter continue to train with the USA Men’s Basketball team as it prepares for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

The two are part of the USA Select Team, a group of current and former college basketball stars who serve as USA Basketball’s ‘practice squad’ during its Olympic preparation.

Related: Big Ten basketball teams ranked by returning production entering 2024-25 season

Importantly, they get to train alongside NBA greats including LeBron James, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo.

Both Potter and Hayes-Davis are looking for a permanent role at the NBA level. Potter currently plays for the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate, while Hayes-Davis has become a star in the Turkish League. This opportunity should help the two make a possible return to the NBA.

 

The two former Badgers have been on the bench for USA Basketball’s exhibition wins over Canada and Australia. Potter even saw action in the former, hitting a corner three-pointer in the game’s final minutes.

The two will continue to train with the team as the 2024 Olympic Games draw closer.

Next up for USA Basketball is an exhibition contest against Serbia at Noon ET on July 17. Then a few games next week in the United Kingdom before beginning the 2024 Olympic Games on July 28.

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Caitlin Clark discusses Olympics, USA Basketball dream, future after Indiana Fever win

Caitlin Clark dreams of representing her country.

Being a part of USA Basketball is one of Caitlin Clark’s biggest dreams.

While Clark won’t be joining USA Basketball as part of the women’s Olympics roster for the Paris Games, it seems like a foregone conclusion that Clark will be a mainstay on Olympics rosters of the future.

After dispatching of the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, Clark was asked about her potential national team future.

“That’s what you dream of as a young kid, getting to represent your country. And, obviously, me and AB have the experience of playing for the junior national teams. You know how fun that is and how cool it is to wear ‘USA’ across your chest.

“So, it gives you something to work for, something to dream for. But, also I feel like I can continue to get a lot better. And for me, that’s my main focus and that’s what excites me the most going forward,” Clark said.

Like Clark, Fever forward Aliyah Boston could find herself on a number of Olympic teams in the future as well. Boston shared what representing USA Basketball would mean to her.

“That’s definitely a goal of mine. People dream of being an Olympian and that’s one of mine. I know coach Reeve is the head coach, and so for me just gonna continue to work hard and do what I need to do to get on that team,” Boston said.

After the win over Minnesota, the Fever are now 11-14 on the season and 8-4 in their past 12 games dating back to June 13.

Clark is averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 39.8% from the field, 33.2% from 3-point range and 89.7% from the free throw line.

Clark’s stretch of five consecutive double-doubles came to a close in the win over the Lynx, but she still managed to record a stat line of 17 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals.

The Fever return to action on Wednesday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN at the Dallas Wings in the team’s final game before the All-Star and Olympics break.

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Follow Josh on X:@JoshOnREF

Rockets’ Jock Landale puts up big numbers in USA-Australia exhibition

In a matchup versus recent NBA MVP Joel Embiid, Jock Landale had a massive game in Monday’s USA Basketball exhibition versus Australia.

In a spotlight matchup versus recent NBA MVP Joel Embiid, veteran Houston Rockets center Jock Landale had a massive game in Monday’s USA Basketball exhibition versus Australia.

While playing for Australia, Landale finished with a game-high 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals in his 27 minutes, shooting 9-of-12 from the field (75.0%). Though the United States entered the game in Abu Dhabi as a sizable favorite, Landale’s big game played a role in Australia’s closer-than-expected loss, 98-92 (box score).

Embiid tallied a pedestrian 10 points and 5 rebounds in 16 minutes, shooting 3-of-6 overall (50.0%) and 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%).

Both the Americans and Australians are preparing for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, which begin in late July. Australia is part of Group A in the men’s basketball contest, while the Americans are in Group C. Landale is one of two Houston players currently slated to participating in the Olympics, joining Canada’s Dillon Brooks.

Like Australia, the Canadians are also playing in Group A.

Highlights of Landale’s showdown versus Embiid and the Americans are available below. As of now, Landale projects to be Houston’s third-string center next season behind incumbent starter Alperen Sengun and recent acquisition Steven Adams, though the 28-year-old appears poised to at least make a push for more playing time.

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Two former Wisconsin Badgers set to suit up for USA Basketball in exhibition vs. Australia

Two former Wisconsin Badgers set to suit up for USA Basketball in exhibition vs. Australia

Former Wisconsin Badgers Micah Potter and Nigel Hayes-Davis have traveled with USA Basketball and are set to suit up for the team’s exhibition vs. Australia on Monday afternoon.

The Olympic exhibition match is in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and will tip off at noon Eastern. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.

Related: Big Ten basketball teams ranked by returning production entering 2024-25 season

Potter made news, to say the least, during USA Basketball’s recent exhibition win over Canada. The former Badger entered the game for the final minutes and hit a contested three-pointer. That excited Badgers fans, but mostly puzzled every other basketball fan who had no idea who Potter was.

Both Potter and Hayes-Davis are with the national team as members of the USA Select Team — a group of current, former and future college basketball stars that serves as the de-facto practice squad as the national team prepares for the upcoming Olympic Games.

It is surprising to look at photos and see Potter lined up next to Steph Curry. But another blowout exhibition win vs. Australia on Monday could lead to more playing time and more viral moments for either former Badger great.

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