USA Basketball to use D-Leaguers for FIBA World Cup qualifying
USA Basketball will use mostly D-League players for 2019 China World Cup qualification games, the basketball organization announced in a new release on Tuesday.
FIBA’s new World Cup qualification system, which mirrors FIFA’s qualification path, includes games during the NBA’s regular season, preventing NBA players from participating in those games.
The decision to use D-League players was not expected, and Paste BN Sports reported on that possibility three years ago.
“This will be an excellent opportunity for NBA D-League players to showcase their talent and experience meaningful and important international competition while representing the United States,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said in a news release.
The U.S. could also use Americans playing in international leagues, if those leagues take a break during qualification games as soccer leagues around the globe do for their World Cup qualification.
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San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will not coach in those qualifying games. USA Basketball will find coaches for those games.
FIBA instituted a new qualification system with the goal of promoting basketball in more countries while reaching more people. The new system includes continental home-and-home games during six timeframes over a 15-month period, starting in late November.
The other periods for qualification games: February, 2018; June-July, 2018; August-September, 2018; November, 2018; February, 2019.
The U.S. will be grouped with 15 other teams from North and South America, and from that group of 16, seven will qualify for the 2019 World Cup in China.
"The NBA D-League prides itself on providing athletes with opportunities to develop and compete at a high level," NBA D-League president Malcolm Turner said. "We're excited for representatives from our league to work hand in hand with USA Basketball to field a successful team filled with NBA D-League players to represent the USA in the World Cup Qualifying Games.”
Follow Paste BN Sports' Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt