Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart aren't guaranteed to play more than a couple of weeks together with Team USA during training camp in Las Vegas while vying for a spot on the 12-man roster heading into the FIBA World Cup. However, as workouts kicked off for Team USA on Monday, it's clear the Celtics contingent is eager to start building some chemistry together ahead of the 2019-20 season.
“It feels good just to build that camaraderie right now, early on before the season even starts,” Marcus Smart told NBCS Boston’s Chris Forsberg on Monday after the workout session. “When it comes time to strap it on for the season, we kind of already have a hint of what everyone wants to do and a feel for everybody.”
A team source told BostonSportsJournal.com that Brad Stevens would also be in Las Vegas during a part of training camp to help out USA head coach Greg Popovich. With De'Aaron Fox added to the main training camp roster from the select team on Monday, this will be the full 16-man roster heading into camp. A select team of younger players will also face off with Team USA at times during camp.
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Mason Plumlee (Denver Nuggets)
Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics)
Thaddeus Young (Chicago Bulls)
Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings)
Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers)
Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks)
Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors)
Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)
Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
P.J. Tucker (Houston Rockets)
Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)
Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics)
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
De'Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings)
Here's a look at some of the best footage of the Celtics from the first day of workouts in Vegas:
Get @KembaWalker & @FCHWPO a shot! #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/FHmZazKaUr
— NBA (@NBA) August 5, 2019
The handle & finish by @KembaWalker! #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/JtR734OQTn
— NBA (@NBA) August 5, 2019
⭐️ #USABMNT Day 1 ⭐️@jaytatum0, @swipathefox, @FCHWPO & @Bam1of1 post practice one-on-one! pic.twitter.com/fazqTvSVei
— NBA (@NBA) August 5, 2019
Kemba turns on the jets for the and-1. pic.twitter.com/n74aiRnpOc
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) August 5, 2019
Kemba a chance to tie scrimmage on final shot, Jaylen with the defense. All four C’s on court. pic.twitter.com/lUSYfYxH47
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) August 5, 2019
? All five USA Men's National Team exhibitions to be televised on @NBATV ahead of #FIBAWC
>> https://t.co/U8J4EF7kye#USABMNT pic.twitter.com/xrWlSuA2Sa
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 5, 2019