Report: Knicks' Julius Randle, Celtics' Jaylen Brown Added to Team USA Roster
The New York Knicks' Julius Randle and Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown have been added to USA Basketball's training camp roster ahead of the 2019 FIBA World Cup, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
This comes after Houston Rockets guards James Harden and Eric Gordon, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, Portland Trail Blazers guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson all pulled out of consideration.
Randle is coming off his best season, which saw the 2014 seventh overall pick average a career-high 21.4 points per game during his only year in New Orleans. That breakout campaign in part allowed him to sign a three-year, $63 million deal with the New York Knicks this summer.
The 6'9", 250-pound forward has some international experience, though he has not suited up for the senior team during a major tournament. He helped the United States win gold at the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship and was a member of the Select Team ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Meanwhile, Brown is coming off another solid season in Boston. He averaged 13.0 points on 46.5 percent shooting while adding 4.2 rebounds per game in 2018-19. He is a career 36.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
Like Randle, Brown represented his country as a teenager. He was a member of the United States' gold-medal-winning squad at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in 2014.
While a number of stars have bowed out, there is still plenty of talent available.
"We are blessed with a lot of talent, a lot of talent in the NBA," Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo told The Athletic's Joe Vardon. "There is no panic. It may be more challenging, but we will be able to field a very competitive team. We've had players call us who want to be on our list."
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell is among those who remain committed to Team USA, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
The United States has won each of the last two FIBA World Cups, in 2010 and 2014. The 2019 FIBA World Cup will be held in China from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15.
