NBA Notebook: Team USA opener raises memories of Celtics World Cup team

No Celtics took the floor in the Philippines this weekend when the FIBA World Cup began, tipping-off basketball season early for numerous NBA stars representing their countries. Al Horford declined to participate for the Dominican Republic, Oshae Brissett backed out of Team Canada to rest his knee and plantar fasciitis cut Kristaps Porziņģis' push to represent his native Latvia short, though he'll remain with the team for the entirety of their run after seeking permission from the Celtics to do so.

That leaves Boston with no representation internationally following Jayson Tatum's pivotal performance in 2021, leading the US to the gold medal alongside Kevin Durant. The World Cup often becomes a B-team appearance by American stars, Tatum, Durant, Devin Booker, Zach LaVine, Damian Lillard and Bam Adebayo all sitting out after starring in Japan two summers ago. In fact, none of that team returned as the US, coached by Steve Kerr, pivoted toward an extraordinarily young roster that'll showcase the game's younger talent. For the Celtics, that serves as a reminder that they're no longer the up-and-coming team they were last World Cup, when Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker competed in China. 

Team USA finished seventh in that World Cup, enough to qualify for Tokyo, but a disappointing decline for the team internationally after their dominant run in the 2016 Olympics. Walker and Donovan Mitchell led the team in scoring, Harrison Barnes shouldered the steadiest wing minutes while Tatum shot 31.8% from the field and 25% from three. Khris Middleton and Myles Turner struggled against the field's bigger front courts, Brown averaged 7.9 points per game while future teammates Smart and Derrick White played sparingly. Still, the experience proved crucial for Boston's core to mesh entering the 2020 season where they reached the east finals after the departures following a second-round exit in 2019. It also gave the Celtics a long look at White and an introduction to head coach Gregg Popovich's rising assistant Ime Udoka, who would lead Boston to the 2022 NBA Finals after replacing Brad Stevens. 

“Being around them has been enough for me,” Walker said then. “Cool guys, super down to earth and they are making it easy for me. I’m very comfortable. Now I’m thinking...it will be an easy transition because I’ve been around these guys for quite some time now. They have just kind of welcomed me with open arms, so it is pretty cool...as far as what I've taken away, I think the sacrifices, you just have to make sacrifices when you're on a team like that with a whole bunch of players who are really good...and a lot of guys did. I think that's something that we’ll bring (in Boston). Guys have to make sacrifices, you have to sometimes be uncomfortable, you have to adjust sometimes to help your team win. You have to take on different roles that you might not like to, so there is something that we can bring here.”

Cutting Adebayo proved a potentially fatal mistake for that team, having already lost Anthony Davis, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin and Draymond Green, among other sturdier interior options named to the initial pool of American players. Smart suffered a quad strain that limited his participation on the team, Tatum sprained his left ankle driving for game-winning free throws against Turkey, missing the rest of the tournament, then Brown broke out for 20 points in the group play finale against Japan. A loss to France ended Team USA's 58-game win streak, Brown, Smart and White combining for only 24 points while Walker shot 2-for-9. Serbia downed the US in the following game behind Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic, sliding America to seventh. 

"Even guys I’ve been playing with for two, three years now, I’m still even learning more about them, so it’s been a good experience,” Brown said then. “I’ve been learning more about Marcus. I’ve been learning more about Jayson Tatum and getting to know Kemba.”

This US team stands a greater chance to finish first, with Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards and Mikal Bridges committing after breakout seasons. Pelicans wing Brandon Ingram joined, providing length and experience at the four, while Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr. solidified the interior after winning defensive player of the year. The bench, also younger, shined immediately in this month's scrimmages: Pacers PG Tyrese Haliburton posting double-figure assist games, Lakers guard Austin Reaves and reigning rookie of the year Paolo Banchero able to create their own shot. Nets wing Cam Johnson can to bury threes in droves. Bucks wing Bobby Portis and Knicks guard Josh Hart became the team's elder statesmen and energy players at 28. 

Elsewhere, Jokić and Jamal Murray backed out of the Serbian and Canadian national teams after leading the Nuggets to the championship. Australia, Spain and France lack the depth and star power of the US team, while Luka Dončić will try to lead Slovenia mostly on his won. Giannis Antetokounmpo backed out of Greece's team after undergoing knee surgery earlier this summer, leaving the US without a significant threat in group play with Jordan and New Zealand losing their openers. The US won 99-72 against the latter, receiving 21 points from Banchero, 14 from Edwards and 12 each from Reaves and Jackson Jr., though as Popovich stressed during the prior World Cup, America can no longer expect to stroll to international dominance. Their scrimmage wins over Germany and Spain required 22-5 and 25-16 closing runs, respectively, to overcome late deficits against veteran opponents. 

“If you don’t win, some people will play the blame game,” Popovich said in 2019. “There’s no blame to be placed anywhere. They play the shame game — like we should be ashamed because we didn’t win a gold medal? That’s a ridiculous attitude. It’s immature. It’s arrogant ... it’s not written in stone that the United States is supposed to walk to a championship. That’s pretty old-school thinking ... but I wish I could have gotten them closer. I feel badly about that, because they’re such great guys.”

Boston's lack of representation on the team doesn't say much alone, as Tatum and Brown could both lead this group. Others like White already benefited from their international experience. Resting Porziņģis and Horford makes sense, given their injury history and age. Robert Williams III goes overlooked as a center option in FIBA rules that allowed goaltending and emphasize rebounding. Walker Kessler made the team as the backup center, so multiple Celtics could've competed on the World Stage. Canadian reporters legitimately lamented Brissett's loss in the front court on their thinning roster, but the world's ability to dominate without Celtics players speaks to the growth of an even young undercurrent of talent across the league that won't allow Boston to contend indefinitely. 

Brown and Tatum turned 27 and 26, respectively, this season. Porziņģis, White and Horford became 28, 29 and 37 this summer, and all three would appear ancient on their national teams. Payton Pritchard competed well with the Select Team by all accounts, but at 25 years old, he saw younger players Chet Holmgren, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green show they're on track for stardom with the Thunder, Pistons and Rockets, all three teams playing the Celtics tough last season. Banchero's Magic defeated Boston three times last year. So did Brunson's Knicks. Any meeting with the Pacers and Oklahoma City become uncomfortable track meets for the Celtics. These teams will arrive sooner than imaginable, with younger stars entering the league ready to compete. 

That goes without mentioning Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the First Team All-NBA star from last season who could drive Canada to the championship, Dončić, a walking triple-double, a tough Josh Giddey-led Australian team that beat the Americans in Olympic warm-ups two years ago and a DR team rallying around Karl-Anthony Towns' return to the program. In next summer's Olympics, Jokić will inevitably return to Serbia, Antetokounmpo to Greece and both Joel Embiid and Victor Wembanyama could stack a French national team that already competes with Evan Fournier, Rudy Gobert and Nic Batum, beating the US in 2021 group play. It's not a stretch to say the world caught up with America over the past decade, and while the US builds its next era of international stars, Tatum still squarely among them, the Celtics need to look over their shoulder at the young stars rising in the NBA.

The US concludes group play against Greece on Monday at 8:40 a.m. EST and Jordan on Wednesday at 4:40 a.m. The second stage of group play begins on Sept. 1, with the knockout round starting on Sept. 5 and final taking place on Sept. 10 ahead of NBA training camp in October. 

"I know we’re one of them...but there’s some great teams,” Kerr said. “The last time through this tournament, we finished seventh, we lost (two) games. We recognize how hard this is. These are not the days of 1992...there’s a reason there’s over a hundred foreign players in the NBA. There’s a reason foreign guys win MVP year after year. It’s a global game, and there’s great teams. So, we may be one of the favorites, but I don’t think anybody’s clear cut. I think there’s a lot of teams that have a shot at this thing.”

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta: Featuring three players in the FIBA World Cup beginning this weekend. Bogdan Bogdanovic will star for Serbia, Patty Mills poured in 25 points in Australia's blowout win over Finland and Bruno Fernando scored 13 points in Angola's loss to Italy. Serbia faces China at 8 a.m. on Saturday. 

Boston: Reportedly eyeing free agent wings TJ Warren, Lamar Stevens, Louis King and Glenn Robinson III with two roster spots open ahead of training camp. Warren shot poorly and played sparingly between Brooklyn and Phoenix last year in his return from missing two seasons with a foot injury. He's played 46 games since his breakout in the 2020 Bubble with Indiana. Stevens provided defensive energy for Cleveland while struggling on offense before the Cavs waived him this summer. King, 6-7 and 24 years old, averaged 16.7 PPG between three G-League teams last regular season. Robinson last played in the NBA during the 2021 season. Kristaps Porziņģis won't play in the World Cup (foot), but said in a recent interview he received permission from the Celtics to remain with the team during the tournament in Asia rather than returning to Boston to rehab as the team originally desired.

"I haven't tested the foot that much myself," Porziņģis said (via translate). "Everything is in the hands of the doctors, because I have never had such an injury. I just felt that I had no options to get in shape and there was no logic in risking an injury…the foot hurts after exercise, I feel almost nothing when walking, it's a really funny injury…it's something that builds up over the course of a career and pops out at one point. It got worse during the training process - when it started to hurt, then I couldn't get rid of the inflammation either ... I now have a four to six week plan that I have to follow. Feelings are good. Of course, I am not yet in such a shape that I can play and train fully. But going step by step, everything should be fine by the start of the season…Boston wanted me to continue my recovery there, but I told them it was very important for me to be with the national team even though I wasn't playing. They supported my decision.“

Charlotte: Re-signed restricted free agent P.J. Washington to a three-year, $48-million deal, retaining their potential power forward of the future on a team-friendly deal while avoiding him playing out one season on the qualifying offer as fellow forward Miles Bridges will do this year. The signing ended the highest-profile free agency remaining this summer, with unrestricted Hornets free agent Kelly Oubre Jr. now the biggest name left on the market. Washington, 25 this season, averaged 15.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.4 APG and 1.1 BPG on 44.4% FG (34.8% 3PT) in 2023. 

Chicago: Lonzo Ball and Stephen A. Smith had a strange exchange about Ball's ability to sit and stand up comfortably, Ball posting a video of himself doing so and Smith firing back by saying he knows Ball's doctors. Ball (knee) acknowledged on a podcast he'll miss the entire 2023-24 season after a surgery he hopes fixed his knee for good. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan again sent his best to Ball ahead of another year of rehab. Nikola Vučević, playing for Montenegro in the World Cup, led the team to a 91-71 win over Mexico with 27 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. 

Dallas: Luka Dončić returned to the floor as arguably the best player in the World Cup, leading Slovenia to a win in their opener against Venezuela with 37 points, seven rebounds and six assists. His performance led all scorers through the first two days of games in Asia, and Slovenia should advance easily from a group that also includes Georgia and Cape Verde. Still, Slovenia needed all of that scoring after trailing in the second quarter, with Venezuela opening the game 9-for-13 from three. Elsewhere, Josh Green scored six points with two steals in Australia's opening win over Finland. 

The Mavericks stretched-and-waived JaVale McGee this week after signing him to a three-year, $17.2-million deal before last season. They'll now pay him $2.3 million for five years. McGee, 36 this year, averaged 4.4 PPG and 2.5 RPG in 42 games, with his release making a surprising signing another big mistake for this franchise in trying to build around Dončić. 

Denver: Former NBA point guard Jameer Nelson recounted Nikola Jokić's rise after playing alongside him on the Nuggets at the end of his career. Nelson saw Jokić as the best player in Denver's early workouts, unable to speak English yet, but capable of stardom due to his feel for the game. Only Devin Booker, Nelson argued, can surpass Jamal Murray's footwork, which stood out before other areas of Murray's game emerged and allowed him to become a player who can lead a team. Nelson is currently the assistant GM for the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia's G-League affiliate. 

"Joker, he gets drafted, and they asked me ‘Who’s the best player?’ I said, the foreign dude," Nelson recalled. "He’s gonna be an All-Star. They were like ‘What?’ They were like that I was crazy. His IQ was like different. What you saw in practice was way better than what you saw in games.”

Houston: Early positive signs for this new Rockets core? Dillon Brooks, perhaps the most unpopular signing of the offseason, helped Canada beat France with 12 points and four rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting. Sources around Jalen Green's stint with Team USA praised his conditioning growth after he competed with the select team. Jabari Smith Jr., my choice for most-improved this season, appeared in workouts guarding Kevin Durant this week. 

"Team sources said the staff was particularly pleased with (Green's) conditioning and fitness level, especially in early August when players are still in the midst of vacationing," The Athletic wrote. "He’s trained in California with other NBA players, sessions which head coach Ime Udoka has frequented. Green arrived at Team USA camp stronger, fitter and most importantly, smarter. Word from Vegas was he picked up the system quickly, was extremely coachable and was an eager learner."

Indiana: Tyrese Haliburton came off the bench against New Zealand in Team USA's opener, posting 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals on 4-of-5 shooting. He won't produce the eye-popping stats he will with the Pacers this season, but Haliburton's presence on the World Cup roster provides needed glue to the roster's many talented scorers. He beat Puerto Rico in the team's scrimmages by tossing 12 assists, added 12 more against Spain keying a comeback win and his double-figure scoring helped down Slovenia. Daniel Theis scored 13 points with six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in Germany's win over Japan. 

Clippers: Vincent Goodwill argued the Clippers' title window could already be over given the team's lack of extension with Kawhi Leonard and recent injury history, and it's hard to contest that notion. Leonard enters this season rehabbing again from a knee injury, this one a meniscus tear that can notoriously linger without the larger, reconstructive surgery. Paul George, ineligible for an extension until the fall, has only played 189 of a possible 308 games with LA since the team traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and its array of future picks for that. Gilgeous-Alexander alone surpassed George's play, and with the Nuggets, Lakers and arguably Suns ahead of the Clippers in the west hierarchy, that would project to end their title window before it began. 

"Time waits for no man in the NBA, even as primes extend longer than ever. The Oklahoma City Thunder? Coming. The Minnesota Timberwolves would be, too, if they decided to turn their on-floor operation over to Anthony Edwards," he wrote. "At some point, youth will be served and it could be this season that serves as a changing of the guard, even if the mainstays do their damndest to hold onto the dwindling real estate in the conference." 

Lakers: Austin Reaves scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting against New Zealand off the bench for Team USA, marking an unlikely national team debut for a player who left draft night without a team in 2021. Chris Mannix reacted stunned a team didn't offer him a $100-million contract to at least challenge the Lakers, who retained the 25-year-old on a four-year, $53.8 million contract. The Spurs reportedly considered doing so, but ultimately acquired Cedi Osman, Reggie Bullock and Cam Payne's contracts alongside future assets with their massive cap space this summer.

Bronny James, LeBron James' oldest son, will continue his basketball career after suffering a cardiac arrest last month, which the James' family spokesperson announced likely occurred due to a congenital heart defect. Bronny collapsed during a July 24 workout at USC, and has since recovered at home following a two-day stay in the hospital. 

"It is an anatomically and functionally significant Congenital Heart Defect which can and will be treated," the statement said. "We are very confident in Bronny's full recovery and return to basketball in the very near future. We will continue to provide updates to media and respectfully reiterate the family's request for privacy."

Miami: The Miami Herald provided an 'update' on the Damian Lillard trade saga: the Trail Blazers remain uninterested in Miami's potential offers and both sides remain far apart on a deal. As September looms next week, it's becoming best to assume the Heat will begin training camp without Lillard, setting up a lineup of Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin and Bam Adebayo that should make the playoffs in the east, but doesn't look like a contender for now. That, of course, played out last regular season too before the team caught fire after winning the play-in tournament. 

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, a legend in the Philippines as the only NBA head coach of Asian descent, arrived in the country for the World Cup. 

“I have a great deal of pride in my heritage and I’m close with my family over here,” Spoelstra, coaching alongside Steve Kerr on Team USA, said. “When I first started coming over, I just wanted to give back and do as much as I could, in terms of clinics and continue to grow the game and just be involved in the movement. That’s what I call it. Basketball really is like a religion in the Philippines.”

Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo announced he will not sign a long-term extension with the Bucks this fall unless everyone gets on the same page entering a critical season following a stunning first-round exit and Mike Budenholzer's firing. The statement sounded early alarms ahead of his potential free agency in 2025, when he can decline his $51.9 million player option to sign a contract larger than Jaylen Brown's $300 million deal. Antetokounmpo, who previously teased playing elsewhere like Chicago, will soon become the league's most anticipated free agent or trade target after he put the Bucks on notice, emphasizing that the franchise remain all-in on winning a championship. That'll become difficult for an aging and expensive roster that sacrificed much of its draft capital, the Adrian Griffin hiring and relatively slow offseason already signaling some skepticism about Milwaukee's future. 

“I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know that everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship, everybody’s going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do. And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing," Antetokounmpo told the New York Times. 

Minnesota: Anthony Edwards shocked the basketball world by unloading 34 points in Team USA's scrimmage against Germany, following it with double-figure efforts against Slovenia, Spain and 14 points against New Zealand in the team's opening win. Edwards' consistency remains the attribute to watch for as he approaches top-level stardom entering his age-22 season, with game-to-game performance and diet the biggest concerns last year as he averaged 24.6 PPG and 4.4 APG as one of the game's breakout stars in 2023. His teammate Karl-Anthony Towns went under the radar, playing for the Dominican Republic over his native US, paying homage to his late mother, and leading DR to a tough win over the Philippines with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Not many players would've made that leap, Paolo Banchero teasing an appearance on Team Italy before deciding to play with the US. 

New York: Jalen Brunson followed his 9-for-9 scrimmage finale for Team USA with 10 points and four assists against New Zealand on 3-for-6 shooting. Knicks teammate Josh Hart appeared briefly off the bench, scoring five points and grabbing four rebounds in the opener. Back in the US, the Knicks sued a former employee and numerous Toronto Raptors officials, including new head coach Darko Rajaković, accusing Toronto of intentionally utilizing then-Knicks video coordinator Ikechukwu Azotam to acquire Knicks scouting reports, video files and other research during Azotam's recruitment. New York claimed Toronto received thousands of files, which they access thousands of times since their transfer, seeking unspecified damages. 

"(Toronto) conspired to use Azotam's position as a current Knicks insider to funnel proprietary information to the Raptors to help them organize, plan, and structure the new coaching and video operations staff," the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan District Court, read. 

Oklahoma City: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unloaded 27 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two steals in a dominant World Cup debut, leading Canada, 95-65, over a tough France team. Alongside Canadian captain Kelly Olynyk's 18 points and Dillon Brooks' efforts, the team proved deserving of retaining its No. 2 status in the odds to win the tournament even without Jamal Murray, who backed out of the tournament to rest his knee. With a win over France, Canada now faces Lebanon and Latvia, with Kristaps Porziņģis' absence from the latter providing a clear path for a Canadian team that didn't qualify for the 2020 Olympics to become a dangerous rival to the US into the knockout stage. Josh Giddey, starring for Australia, posted 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in his team's win over Finland, another team that could challenge the Americans in knockout play. 

Philadelphia: The NBA fined James Harden the maximum $100,000 allowed in the CBA after finding his comments calling Daryl Morey a liar last week stemmed from an understanding that Philadelphia would trade Harden quickly, not an arranged agreement on a max contract following his two-year deal last summer. The Sixers dodged a potentially devastating scandal, while the NBPA will fight Harden's fine, which actually stems from a mistake in his rant, saying he would never play for Morey or Philadelphia. The NBA previously warned Damian Lillard and his agent against saying he wouldn't play unless he's dealt to the Heat, a clear violation of the CBA, which states players cannot withhold services from teams. That'll inevitably bring Harden to training camp if he wants to receive payment. How smoothly that camp will open under first-year head coach Nick Nurse becomes a bigger question as this stalemate continues. 

Phoenix: It won't go down as the flashiest of the FIBA debuts this weekend, but Yuta Watanabe's 20 points in Japan's loss to Germany showed why Kevin Durant wanted to keep his former Nets teammate around with the Suns. Watanabe shot 44.4% from three last season in Brooklyn before signing with Phoenix for two-years, $5-million this summer, then opening the World Cup shooting 9-for-19 with six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. The Suns will need floor spacing, size and role player contributions alongside their three stars this season, so expect Watanabe to play often and potentially go down as the steal of the summer. Deandre Ayton, competing in Olympic qualifiers, earned the Bahamas a berth in the 2024 Paris qualifiers next summer alongside Eric Gordon by defeating Cuba, Uraguay and Argentina. Gordon scored 27 points, Ayton grabbed 21 rebounds and Buddy Hield rounded out the team's NBA representation. Gordon, 35 this season, signed a two-year, $6.6 million deal with Phoenix after his trade to the Clippers.

Portland: Could a non-Heat team step up in the Damian Lillard sweepstakes? Bill Simmons pitched the Timberwolves if they'd trade Karl-Anthony Towns to Portland, but the Oregonian shot down that idea, stating that the Blazers wouldn't want the Wolves star in exchange for Lillard. The Wolves' inability to trade future draft capital after the Rudy Gobert trade would become the biggest hurdle in that deal. While talks with Miami sit dormant for now, expect them to restart closer to camp, according to the Miami Herald. Lillard, who confirmed his request in an Andscape interview with new Hall-of-Fame reporter Marc Spears, said he prefers not to speak about the Trail Blazers as his quest for an exit continues.  

"The expectation from those around this situation is that trade talks could pick up as the start of camp inches closer," Anthony Chiang wrote. "And if the Heat is the only team extending a serious offer for Lillard, then the Trail Blazers may need to at least engage the Heat on some health trade discussions."

Toronto: The Raptors, owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, have fewer than 21 days to file a response in Manhattan District Court to the New York Knicks' allegations that the team coordinated efforts by a former Knicks employee to funnel proprietary, strategic data to Toronto. A lawyer who spoke with The Athletic to break down the case addressed its merits, as the controversy becomes a rocky entrance for new head coach Darko Rajaković, also named in the lawsuit. The Raptors denied any involvement in the matters alleged and announced they're conducting an internal investigation and will cooperate fully. 

“There is no obligation at this point to put in evidence,” the lawyer said. “… I interpreted your question as that they don’t really back up their claims (about Rajaković’s motivations), and I think they would say, ‘We agree. That’s why we filed the lawsuit. We don’t have all the information now. But once we get text messages and emails from the other side, then it’s different.’ So I guess they’ll say all that stuff is to come and if we’re wrong about the motivations, we’ll be wrong about the motivations.”

Utah: Lauri Markkanen (Finland) and Jordan Clarkson (Philippines) lost their World Cup openers despite strong individual performances. Australia proved too much for Finland, which will get to make knockout play by beating Japan and Germany to emerge over both teams from the group. The Philippines faces a more manageable slate on its home court in Manila against Angola and Italy, but dropping a winnable game against DR could prove costly. Simone Fontecchio, starring for the Italian national team, led a win over Angola with 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting.