A few weeks ago, Steve Kerr and his coaching staff finalized the Team USA men’s basketball roster, which showcased a lot of young up-and-coming players in the NBA and zero superstars.
This roster was put together to compete in the upcoming FIBA World Cup, which will take place later this month, with Team USA potentially having some tough challenges against teams like Canada, Spain, Slovenia, France, and Australia.
Although Team USA has played well during their exhibition games so far, there has been some controversy about Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks wanting to be on the squad and getting passed over by Kerr and company.
Young wasn’t happy about not getting picked to play for Team USA and believes he’s more than capable of doing so, and Patrick Beverley agrees with him, as he thinks the Hawks superstar could replace anyone on the current squad, as he said on the “Pat Bev Podcast” recently.
"Whatever Steph Curry is leaving over he's taking it running with it… Trae Young gonna have his shot. He will have that [Team USA] jersey on. If it's not this year, it's soon to be so."
—Patrick Beverley
(via @PatBevPod) pic.twitter.com/oEElhpheBx
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 16, 2023
Beverley makes a case for Young by breaking down his resume and the success he’s had with the Hawks during his short time in the league thus far.
This situation sounds a lot like Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas wanting to play for the Dream Team back in 1992, but the other superstars on the team didn’t want him on the squad, with the finger being pointed at Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Magic Johnson.
That was another level entirely, as there were a ton of superstars and Hall of Famers on that squad, but in Young’s case, the bar is a bit lower, and it does seem like more of a personal choice than something that came down to ability.
Even though Young wasn’t asked to be on the current squad, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that things will change when the 2024 Olympics roll around next year.
NEXT: Gilbert Arenas Calls Out Trae Young Critics
