As the dropouts continue, Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Harris is one of 13 players fighting for 12 spots on the FIBA World Cup roster.
They’re dropping like flies. Team USA is hemorrhaging stars and De’Aaron Fox is the latest American to drop out of the 2019 FIBA World Cup according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Fox is the most recent star to back out, but the slew of dropouts are providing a unique opportunity for Joe Harris. The sharpshooter for the Brooklyn Nets has a remarkable chance at making the final roster.
On Friday, Harris and company took on Spain in an exhibition game. Team USA knocked off Spain 90-81 and Harris’ full complement of skills was on display.
Spain did a good job at running Harris off of the three-point line, but he countered this by impacting the game in different ways. He finished with three points, four rebounds, and one assist in 19 minutes of play.
The tuneup was a good chance for Harris to show that he’s more than just a shooter. He’s a solid, if unspectacular defender that knows how to play within the concept of team defense. He played for Tony Bennett at the University of Virginia. People forget that.
Team USA will play three more exhibitions before the World Cup starts in September. Head coach Gregg Popovich will lead his squad against Australia twice and Canada once before the team heads to Shanghai.
They will then take on the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Japan in group play. Although Americans are dropping out in droves, Team USA should still be the heavy favorite to take gold in China.