USA success requires retooling as players move to NBA

COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - For a team that's undefeated through four FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifying games, it may be odd to hear that the USA basketball roster is a victim of its own success.

According to USA Basketball, 15 of the 29 players on the three USA teams that competed in the AmeriCup, November and February World Cup Qualifying windows have played in the NBA this season, which prevented them from participating in qualifying at some point.

Only one player, Travis Wear, who had a 14 point/10 rebound double-double against Mexico in November, has played in all four WCQ games to date, averaging 7.3 points and 6.8 rebounds. He's one of the 15 who made it to an NBA bench over the past season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Given the parameters of the new qualifying process in which the NBA players are not available for selection during the league's season, an agreement was reached where USA Basketball would fill the roster with athletes from the developmental G League.

Playing this kind of game allows you to showcase your potential and it was an experience that definitely helped me in my process to achieve my two-way contract with the Bucks,Xavier Munford, USAXavier Munford, USA

Since that effort began with the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup Tournament, the one constant of the USA roster has been change as their success has resulted in NBA call-ups and signings to the full roster or as two-way players. (Two-way contracts allow players to move almost unlimited between the NBA club and their G League affiliate.)

"Playing this kind of game allows you to showcase your potential and it was an experience that definitely helped me in my process to achieve my two-way contract with the Bucks," Xavier Munford told FIBA.

"When you play at international level and against great teams and players, you gain a lot of experience, said Munford, who was integral on the AmeriCup and November teams. "I gained confidence as I played well in those two (WCQ) games and helped my team win both of them."

The USA selectors, headed by men's national team director Sean Ford, have been working overtime to find athletes that fit the mold of the high pace, high pressure, aggressive rebounding system head coach Jeff Van Gundy and his staff have created.

It began with the AmeriCup, where the national team neophytes were thrown into the deep end of the pool, playing seasoned South American veterans on their home courts. The USA beat Uruguay in Montevideo and fought their way back from a 20-point deficit to defeat Argentina on their home court in the final,

For the USA, it's all about keeping balance. In the current stats leaderboards, only Devon Williams, second in rebounding, and Larry Drew II, tied for third in assists average, appear for the Americans.

Twenty-two players have logged time in the four WCQ games and all have scored. Of them, 11 players have averaged over 20 minutes per game.

The leading scorers, tied for 24^th overall with 13 points per game for the Americans have been Munford and Rodney Purvis, who joined the squad for the February qualifiers against Cuba and Puerto Rico.

That balance has seen another six players average double figure scorering for the USA including Aaron Harrison (12.5), Markel Brown (12), Reggie Hearn (11.5), Jameel Warney (11.5), Xavier Silas (11), and Drew II (10.5).

Drew II, one of only three players to be on both the November and February teams, and the only one left from the AmeriCup side, didn't play in November due to injury but also averaged 5.5 assists in the two February games.

That helped him gain the attention of the New Orleans Pelicans who signed him to two 10-day contracts

Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Larry Drew, who has also been the interim head coach at times this season, can see it from two perspectives, as an NBA coach and as the father of Larry Drew II. He told FIBA it has definitely benefited his son in his growth as a player and in his confidence, echoing Munford's words.

"He's able to take more contact. He plays much more physical now."

"When guys do get an opportunity to play FIBA (games), they get a chance to showcase their talents against a different level of player. The talent is different. It's kind of a different brand of basketball. It shows a different side of them than just playing in the G League."

Drew II may be available to keep his USA national team streak going in the summer window but more success there may keep him out of the next round.

Additionally, Semaj Christon, who was a free agent when he played in the November window, was invited to play in February but was signed instead by the Guangzhou Long-Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.

 FIBA