Playing for Team USA is an honor for most players. It’s an opportunity to represent your country and be able to help bring gold back home.
It is, however, a big commitment. It is a roughly six week event in August and when a player has to go through an 82 game schedule, it can be a bit much. That has caused a lot of players such as Houston Rockets guards James Harden and Eric Gordon, Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris, and Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal to drop out of it to focus on the season.
Due to those players dropping out, it does give other players an opportunity and according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart will get an opportunity to attend training camp for Team USA.
Smart, along with teammate Jayson Tatum, were both in the running for a spot in training camp with Smart ultimately getting an invite. Tatum very well may receive an invite as well as USA basketball general manager Jerry Colangelo will still have to fill out the roster.
