China’s delegation during FIBA’s announcement of the country as host for the 2019 World Cup | Getty Images
USA Basketball have announced the country will rely heavily on players in the NBA Development League for its FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 qualifying campaign.
Under FIBA‘s Competition System 2017+, national sides (with the exception of hosts China) must qualify for the expanded 32-team World Cup. There will be 80 sides from FIBA’s four regions of Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe competing in qualifiers during six windows.
The Americas will have 16 teams trying to qualify.
The first of the windows is this coming November.
USA Basketball are putting together a six-member committee that is to be responsible for the selection of players that will make up the 2017-20 USA men‘s World Cup qualification teams.
USA Basketball Committee that selects players comprising 2017-20 USA Men’s World Cup Qualification Teams announced https://t.co/1BB95Vrwcf pic.twitter.com/0WPT2v4g3X
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) May 2, 2017
“With USA Basketball entering the new FIBA qualification system for the men’s 2019 World Cup and 2020 Olympic competitions, we’re excited to work with the NBA Development League to field competitive teams for the 2017-19 USA‘s World Cup qualifying games,” said USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley.
“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.”
The USA have won the last three FIBA Basketball World Cups, including in 2014 when they put on a dominating display in Spain and cruised to the top of the podium.
Culled from FIBA
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