LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Aug. 16, 2019) — USA Men’s World Cup finalist P.J. Tucker (Houston Rockets) has withdrawn from the U.S. team after suffering a minor left ankle sprain during practice Thursday. Tucker will return to Houston to receive treatment and prepare for the 2019-20 NBA season.
The USA World Cup finalists roster currently includes 14 players: Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings); Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics); De’Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings); Joe Harris (Brooklyn Nets); Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers); Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks); Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks); Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz); Mason Plumlee (Denver Nuggets), Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics); Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics); Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers); Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics); and Derrick White (San Antonio Spurs).
The 2018-20 USA Basketball National Team coaching staff includes USA and San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and USA assistant coaches and Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce and Villanova University head coach Jay Wright.
The USA finalists will conclude domestic preparation with an exhibition contest versus FIBA’s No. 2 world ranked team, Spain, at the Honda Center in Anaheim tonight at 7 p.m. PDT.
The American squad will continue World Cup preparations Aug. 19-24 in Melbourne, Australia, and play a pair of exhibition games versus Australia on Aug. 22 and Aug. 24 at Marvel Stadium. The USA will complete its pre-World Cup tour Aug. 25-28 in Sydney, Australia, including training Aug. 25, 27 and 28, and a final exhibition on Aug. 26 against Canada at Qudos Bank Arena. For game ticket information visit usab.com/mnttickets.
