USA: Bradley Beal wants a shot at a third FIBA gold medal

COLORADO SPRINGS (United States) - Named the MVP of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2010, Bradley Beal is in the running to represent the United States at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 this summer.

The two-time NBA All Star was a finalist for the 2016 USA Olympic Team and is looking forward to the opportunity of a run with the senior team.

"I would like to play with the national team this summer," Beal told FIBA.basketball. "I know that a lot of players can make it to the final roster that will go to China, but I would like to try to fight for a spot for the competition."

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2010 MVP Bradley Beal

The St. Louis, Missouri native first donned the USA jersey at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2009, winning his first gold medal, following that with the U17 world title the following year. He's hungry for more.

"I would like to represent my country in the world stage and to win medals and titles with Team USA. To also have the opportunity to work with the best players and some of the best coaches in America is also a great thing that I would like to experience," said Beal.

"We have to win every game, to respect our opponents and to play at our best level from the first to the last minute of the games, no matter which team we play against."

The Washington Wizards guard is also very aware that he could find himself against teammate Tomas Satoransky,whose Czech Republic team is in Group E with the Americans, Japan and Turkey.

"That would be so great to play against him. We talked about it a couple of times since the draw of the competition, and I have to say that I would love to compete against him during the tournament. He's a great player, such a good guy and he has been helping his national team so much in the last couple of years. He loves to represent his country and he is proud of that, so you have to respect this," shared Beal.

 "He is proud to be an ambassador of his country in the NBA and at the international level. He can be one of the best players of the FIBA World Cup."

"WE HAVE TO WIN EVERY GAME, TO RESPECT OUR OPPONENTS AND TO PLAY AT OUR BEST LEVEL FROM THE FIRST MINUTE OF THE GAMES, NO MATTER WHICH TEAM WE PLAY AGAINST."- Bradley Beal

 Beal shared his thoughts on the USA's first round opponents.

"I really like this group; it’s a great group of teams that will try to compete to have great runs in the World Cup. I don’t know a lot about Japan, but I know a bit about Turkey and Czech Republic," he said.

Beal against Poland in FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2010.

"Turkey has some very solid players, such as Cedi Osman and (Furkan) Korkmaz for example, and one of the most experienced NBA veterans, with Ersan Ilyasova, who is a very good player. I know about the Czechs through my teammate Tomas Satoransky and he tells me that his national team is a pretty competitive one."

And he already understands the responsibility that comes with wearing the jersey that stood atop the last two World Cup podiums.

"When you compete with the national team jersey, Team USA on your shoulders, you know that every team wants to beat you. We will have to be very focused and ready to have a great First Round in order to be in the best position for the rest of the competition," the guard spoke of the extra responsibility of playing on the world stage.

Along with his exceptional skills, Beal brings the mentality that new head coach Gregg Popovich and his staff want on the team.

Beal gets past DeMarcus Cousins at the 2015 USA Men's National Team Showcase (Photo courtesy of USA Basketball)

"Nothing is (taken for) granted, you have to fight hard to win medals and titles and we can't start the competition thinking that the gold medal is going to be ours," said Beal. 

"Everybody wants to show their best level against Team USA, and we will have to bring our A game to win the title and bring it back home. It’s going to be a very competitive and long tournament, and we want to keep the title won in 2014. That is our goal, our mindset is to keep Team USA on the top of the basketball’s world."

FIBA