Rumors

Mike Krzyzewski on coaching the USA team: “I coached the US teams for 11 years and I told them, when we started off every team bring your egos in. I don’t believe in leave your egos at the door. That’s such BS. I want you to be who you are. And by the way, Kobe Bryant, LeBron, they would have they would have brought their damn egos in no matter what the hell anyway. But I would always tell them, I said, if you can all put your egos under one ego umbrella, call it USA, we’ll kick everyone’s a**. You know, we’ll rule the world.”

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"I looked at the stat sheet. It was pretty crazy: 40 shots, 40 free throws, 20 3s, that takes a lot of stamina, man," Houston star and Adebayo's USA Basketball teammate Kevin Durant said. "It takes a lot of energy to go out there and put those shots up and also make them, set a record, surpass Kobe as the second-highest-scoring player in the history of the game. I mean, damn. Congrats to him. Huge, huge accomplishment, something we're going to be talking about forever."

ESPN

Spoelstra, the Miami Heat coach who will lead the U.S. men’s basketball team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, said Saturday he’s aware of Durant’s recent comments about the potential of playing for what would be a fifth gold medal. And the concept is clearly intriguing. “Just him saying that is incredible,” Spoelstra said before the Heat hosted Durant and the Houston Rockets. “You know, that’s the culture of USA Basketball. You just want the best American players to raise their hand and say, ‘I want to do this.’”

Associated Press

In a 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying game Thursday night, USA Basketball lost to the Dominican Republic, 87-79. It was the U.S.’s second loss ever to the Dominicans in men’s basketball, and first since 1989. The Americans trailed by as many as 19 and never led. Yes, a U.S. men’s basketball team did not hold a lead in an international game. “Now I am very happy because every player that comes to the (Dominican Republic) national team, they feel love for this country, for this flag,” Dominican coach Nestor Garcia said. “In our country, the people support us. This is for the Dominican people.”

New York Times

FIBA Basketball World Cup 🏆: USA closing the gap! 🔥😤 #FIBAWC x #StepItUp

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Kevin Durant, the all-time leading scorer for the United States men's basketball team, told ESPN earlier this month that he does plan on returning for another run of international play in 2028. The 37-year-old swingman, who won an Olympic-record fourth gold medal at the 2024 Games, disputed the notion that Paris was a last run. "That narrative, where did the last dance thing come from?" Durant said. "I didn't say I wasn't playing. LeBron [James] said he wasn't. You didn't hear that from me or Steph [Curry]."

ESPN

While it seems unlikely Curry, 37, will return, Durant was emphatic about his own plans. He'll be nearing 40 by then, but assuming good health, he wants in. "Hell yeah, I want to play," Durant said. "But I gotta stay on top of my game. I'm not expecting. I want to produce on the floor and make Grant [Hill, USA Basketball managing director since 2021] and whoever is making the decisions want to put me on the team. Not just for seniority; I want to still prove I can help the team win. "Today, yeah, I feel like I'll put my name in that hat."

ESPN

Kon Knueppel also has opened eyes with his shooting, sources told ESPN. The Charlotte Hornets rookie, who last month became the fastest to record 100 made 3-pointers in NBA history, would help fill the void if Curry indeed steps away from international play. A major priority under Kerr was 3-point shooting, and that need won't dissipate with the coaching change.

ESPN

The 6-foot-5 Haliburton played a small role in the national team's 2024 run to the gold medal, but he has good size and is a natural distributor. Assuming good health -- like Tatum, Haliburton is recovering from a torn Achilles, suffered in Game 7 of the NBA Finals -- he will be strongly considered for a return and an expanded role. That could leave a choice between Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey -- smaller guards with different playing styles. "Jalen wants to play. He would love it," a source close to Brunson told ESPN. "Tyrese would be honored," a source close to the Philadelphia 76ers guard said.

ESPN

Meanwhile, Flagg, who really opened eyes among the small group of media members allowed to watch in Las Vegas in the run-up to the 2024 Olympics, could end up being an easy addition. The Dallas Mavericks rookie will be 21 when the Summer Games begin in L.A. "What I like about him, he really competes and plays hard," a source connected with USA Basketball said of Flagg. "He's good at just about everything."

ESPN

Cade Cunningham, a top contender for 2025-26 NBA Most Valuable Player, hopes to get the call. Earlier this season, Cunningham told Hill how much he wanted to represent his country in Los Angeles. When asked by ESPN last week, the 24-year-old guard doubled down. "I put the work in," Cunningham said. "I feel like I am part of the next wave of American players. So, to be able to represent the United States would be a blessing. But I don't make those decisions."

ESPN

Marc J. Spears: The February 2026 USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team includes Malcolm Hill, Tevian Jones, Taevion Kinsey, Brandon Knight, Dakota Mathias, Elfrid Payton, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, David Roddy, Jaden Shackelford, Terry Taylor, Jeremiah Tilmon and James Wiseman.

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USA Basketball: The February 2026 🇺🇸 Men's World Cup Qualifying Team 🫡

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Carmelo Anthony on losing to Puerto Rico in 2004 Olympics: I should have played with them. I should have played with Puerto Rico. And then I'm over here not playing. I left PR. I just was in PR. I left Puerto Rico about to say, "Yay." And then I'm like, "All right, I realized that I plan on being in the NBA for a long time. USA Basketball is the pinnacle of this." So, at the time, Puerto Rico basketball wasn't it. You know, they were good, had great players, had good players on the island, but it was like, I want USA basketball. It's the prestige. It's the highest honor at that point. At that time. It wasn't where we put it at. I'mma break it down to you from my perspective, right? 2004. I was going to play with Puerto Rico. Just think about it. Yo, you ain't going to never be able to play with USA Basketball. All right. Cool. All right. Boom. Right after that, I get the call for ’04 Olympics. Dwyane Wade: Because all the players opted out. Anthony: Everybody opted out. So, this is telling you where USAB was at that point in time. Everybody opted out. Wade: All the top dogs opted out. Anthony: It was only a couple people left. They call us. Oh, hell yeah. I'm playing that mindset of I'm going to get to it. I'm playing Olympics. I'm going to get to it. I'm going to get it, I don't care who I'm going to get. This is my mentality. Like, man, I get to play USA basketball Olympics after my first year in the NBA. Damn. Okay. Like, this is what it is. Like, I can establish myself. This is dream team. And we go play that game in 04, get the sh*t beat out of us and the rest is history.

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