Team USA clinches World Cup berth; Carmelo Anthony named ambassador

USABasketball put together different rosters for all six World Cupqualifying windows, and coach Jim Boylen noticed the same twothings with each of those groups.

One, everyplayer beamed when putting on the “USA” jersey for picture day.Two, by the third or fourth day of practice, the players werecoaching each other.

It took 52players and more than a year, but the job is done — USA Basketballis going to the World Cup in the Philippines this summer. The U.S.won’t have to sweat it out this weekend when the final spots in the32-team field get claimed, after rallying to beat Uruguay onThursday and clinching a berth.

“When theyput on the USA jersey, the same jersey that LeBron James wore, thesame jersey that Kobe Bryant wore, the same jersey of the seniormen’s national team, there’s a joy from those guys unlike what I’veever seen,” Boylen said. “And then it clicks: They’ve reached ahigher level of distinction and they’ve got to come together.That’s what happened.”

Boylen hasled the U.S. to a 9-2 record in qualifying, with one game left atBrazil on Sunday. It’s meaningless, on paper, for the Americans,but could decide whether Brazil goes to the World Cup or not.

His effortswere lauded Friday by Steve Kerr, who will coach the roster of NBAplayers that the U.S. will take to the World Cup this summer.

“Jim Boylenhas done a great job with that whole group and they all gounheralded, and I just want take the time to say ‘thank you’ as thecoach of the team that will be playing in the World Cup thissummer,” said Kerr, the Golden State coach. “My gratitude goes outto Jim and all the players.”

For many ofthe U.S. players, Sunday could be the last time they play with“USA” on the front of the jersey. The World Cup roster will befilled by NBA players; the qualifying teams, with a handful ofexceptions, were primarily players from the G League.

If the U.S.finishes as one of the best two teams from the Americas region inthe World Cup, they’ll also qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.The Americans are the four-time defending Olympic champions. Kerrwill again coach the Americans in the Olympics if they qualify,assisted by Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, the Los Angeles Clippers’Tyronn Lue and Gonzaga’s Mark Few.

“All I wantthem to do is take care of business,” said guard Langston Galloway,who played in the most qualifying games for the U.S. over the last15 months. “I feel like I’m part of their success to some extent.We’ve done our job and now we hand it over to the next group andlet them finish the job.”

MELOON BOARD

CarmeloAnthony was introduced in Manila on Friday as the newest FIBA WorldCup Global Ambassador.

He said itwas special to be picked for the role, especially since his closefriend Kobe Bryant was an ambassador for the 2019 World Cup inChina. Anthony said it was “special to kind of follow what Kobe hascreated on a global scale.”

“I’m sure hedefinitely would have been here with me, watching these games,coming over, hanging in the Philippines and just enjoying himself,”Anthony said. “For me, I can continue part of his legacy, but alsoestablish what I have to establish for myself.”

Anthony, athree-time Olympic champion, joins Pau Gasol and Luis Scola asambassadors.

“I’m gladwe’re not competing no more. We’re on the same side now,” Anthonysaid.

FIELDUPDATE

Jordan madethe 32-team World Cup, clinching its spot Friday when New Zealanddefeated Saudi Arabia.

Jordan is theseventh team to advance through the Asian Qualifiers, joiningco-hosts Philippines and Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, Australia andChina. There is one spot left unclaimed from Asia, with Iran andKazakhstan still in the running.

Alsoclinching on Friday were South Sudan and Egypt.

The otherteams that have clinched so far:

AmericasRegion (7 spots)

In: USA,Canada.

Still in therace: Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Brazil,Argentina, Mexico. Those last five spots will be decidedSunday.

Europe Region(12 spots)

In: Finland,Latvia, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, France, Lithuania, Spain,Italy.

Still in therace: Serbia, Belgium, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary,Georgia, Iceland.

Africa Region(5 spots)

In: IvoryCoast, South Sudan, Egypt.

Still in therace: Angola, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia.