By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept

News Junction

Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • World News
    World NewsShow More
    Russia beefs up forces near Finland’s border
    Russia beefs up forces near Finland’s border
    May 20, 2025
    Is Trump walking away from peace in Ukraine? | US News
    Is Trump walking away from peace in Ukraine? | US News
    May 20, 2025
    How the U.S. is Tapping a Much Bigger Well in The Middle East
    How the U.S. is Tapping a Much Bigger Well in The Middle East
    May 20, 2025
    Biden’s cancer diagnosis renews transparency concerns; Trump claims coverup | Health News
    Biden’s cancer diagnosis renews transparency concerns; Trump claims coverup | Health News
    May 20, 2025
    Trump reveals difficult relationship with Zelensky — RT World News
    Trump reveals difficult relationship with Zelensky — RT World News
    May 20, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Ukraine blows up bridges to consolidate its positions in Russia
    Ukraine blows up bridges to consolidate its positions in Russia
    August 18, 2024
    Commentary: AI phones from Google and Apple will erode trust in everything
    Commentary: AI phones from Google and Apple will erode trust in everything
    August 18, 2024
    The most famous Indian Dishes – Insights Success
    The most famous Indian Dishes – Insights Success
    August 18, 2024
    Life on the road as a female long rides cyclist
    Life on the road as a female long rides cyclist
    August 18, 2024
    UK inflation rises to 2.2%
    UK inflation rises to 2.2%
    August 18, 2024
  • Cryptocurrency
    CryptocurrencyShow More
    6.3% Rally Fueled by DeFi Demand and Volume
    6.3% Rally Fueled by DeFi Demand and Volume
    May 20, 2025
    Price predictions 5/19: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, SUI
    Price predictions 5/19: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, SUI
    May 20, 2025
    Bitcoin trading in six-figure territory shows BTC is ready to carry gold’s ‘baton’ — Fidelity exec
    Bitcoin trading in six-figure territory shows BTC is ready to carry gold’s ‘baton’ — Fidelity exec
    May 20, 2025
    Binance wants arbitration for all members of securities class suit
    Binance wants arbitration for all members of securities class suit
    May 20, 2025
    US Senate moves forward with GENIUS stablecoin bill
    US Senate moves forward with GENIUS stablecoin bill
    May 20, 2025
  • Technology
    TechnologyShow More
    How to Improve Your Spotify Recommendations
    How to Improve Your Spotify Recommendations
    August 18, 2024
    X says it’s closing operations in Brazil
    X says it’s closing operations in Brazil
    August 18, 2024
    Supermoon set to rise: Top tips for amateur photographers | Science & Tech News
    Supermoon set to rise: Top tips for amateur photographers | Science & Tech News
    August 18, 2024
    Scientists Want to See Videos of Your Cat for a New Study
    Scientists Want to See Videos of Your Cat for a New Study
    August 18, 2024
    OpenAI’s new voice mode let me talk with my phone, not to it
    OpenAI’s new voice mode let me talk with my phone, not to it
    August 18, 2024
  • Entertainment
  • Sports News
  • People
  • Trend
Reading: To prepare for World Cup, USA Basketball brought some help for practices
Share
Font ResizerAa

News Junction

  • World News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Trend
  • Entertainment
Search
  • Recent Headlines in Entertainment, World News, and Cryptocurrency – NewsJunction
  • World News
  • Business
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Sports News
  • People
  • Trend
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
News Junction > Blog > Sports News > To prepare for World Cup, USA Basketball brought some help for practices
To prepare for World Cup, USA Basketball brought some help for practices
Sports News

To prepare for World Cup, USA Basketball brought some help for practices

Published August 19, 2023
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Among the prized possessions that John Jenkins has collected in his career: a handwritten letter from former USA Basketball coach Gregg Popovich for his role on the Tokyo Olympic team, and a gold medal from those games.

His medal is a replica. His effort was very real. And who knows, another shiny souvenir might be coming his way in a few weeks.

As part of its preparations for big tournaments in recent years – such as the World Cup, which begins on Friday in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan – USA Basketball has been taking a few extra players to help in practices and workouts. Jenkins, Langston Galloway and Eric Mika were the trio that got the call for this trip; they go home on Sunday, one day before the Americans leave for Manila and their World Cup run.



“To have this opportunity given to me again, I’ve never been more grateful in my life than now,” Jenkins said.

These aren’t some guys off the street who were brought in to be tackling dummies. Make no mistake: They all could be on NBA rosters right now. Galloway has appeared in 452 NBA games with seven different franchises. Jenkins has appeared in 171 games with five franchises. Mika had six points and seven rebounds in his only NBA game, more than holding his own on a night where LeBron James and Anthony Davis were on the opposing team.

They were among the 52 players, most of them from the G League, that USA Basketball brought in for the 12 qualifying games – six different teams were assembled to play each of the two-game windows that wound up securing the Americans their spot in the World Cup.

“The people working in USA Basketball, we’re just placeholders, right?” said Sean Ford, USA Basketball’s men’s national team director. “But there’s a lot of people that contribute to make USA Basketball what it is. And once you’ve done it, you own a piece of USA Basketball – and we can never have too many investors. So, they feel a part of it.”

As they should.

Nobody played in more World Cup qualifying games than Galloway, who appeared in 10 of the 12 contests. On the night when the Americans clinched the World Cup spot in February, Galloway led the charge in an 88-77 win over Uruguay with 21 points – including 11 straight in the fourth quarter to help put the win away.

It’s the guys like him that gave the U.S. a chance to win gold this summer.

“It’d be a huge accomplishment,” said Galloway, a pro who’ll play in Italy this season and has own shoe line – ETHICS, it’s called, with one of his latest drops a shoe in the red, white and blue colors of the U.S. flag. “To see them win it all, it’d be a huge moment for me, John, Eric. We helped get them here. Now let’s finish the job.”

Mika was brought over to work with the U.S. team’s big guys, like Walker Kessler and Jaren Jackson Jr. It was also not an accident that USA Basketball chose three players to join the 12-man roster on the trip; that gave the team 15 for practice, or three teams of five.

“It says a lot about their character,” Kessler said. “They’re unbelievable guys. Obviously, incredibly talented. Eric’s a great player, great guy, and it says so much that he wanted to come here and be part of the team and make the team better.”

Mika and Jenkins are planning to return to the G League Ignite roster this coming season. They both used plenty of the same words – like “gratitude” toward Ford for inviting them and “honor” to get to wear USA on their chests on foreign soil again.

“This got me in great shape,” said Mika, who got his World Cup teammates to sign his official team jersey as a souvenir. “Even if I didn’t get tons of reps in practice, I got tons of reps after with great coaches, with a great staff, with great players. It got me a lot of confidence; I scrimmaged against them and I know I can hang with these cats. I’m not these guys, I’m not on their level, but I can play with them. I don’t think I’ve missed my window to make it back to the NBA.”

The team flies to Manila on Monday. By then, Jenkins, Galloway and Mika will be home – ready to root for gold. And when USA Basketball calls again, as it likely will, they’ll all come running to be part of whatever’s next.

“A mentor told me to always serve others,” Jenkins said. “That’s my purpose. However I can help, I’ve got to do it. My role is a little bit different, but I still think it’s pretty valuable.”

Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.

#prepare #World #Cup #USA #Basketball #brought #practices

- Advertisement -
TAGGED:BasketballbroughtCupPracticesprepareUSAWorld
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article Russian missile attack kills 7 in northern Ukrainian city as Zelenskyy visits NATO candidate Sweden Russian missile attack kills 7 in northern Ukrainian city as Zelenskyy visits NATO candidate Sweden
Next Article Moped-Style E-bikes : euybike s4 Moped-Style E-bikes : euybike s4
- Advertisement -

Latest Post

Russia beefs up forces near Finland’s border
Russia beefs up forces near Finland’s border
World News
6.3% Rally Fueled by DeFi Demand and Volume
6.3% Rally Fueled by DeFi Demand and Volume
Cryptocurrency
Is Trump walking away from peace in Ukraine? | US News
Is Trump walking away from peace in Ukraine? | US News
World News
Price predictions 5/19: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, SUI
Price predictions 5/19: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, SUI
Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin trading in six-figure territory shows BTC is ready to carry gold’s ‘baton’ — Fidelity exec
Bitcoin trading in six-figure territory shows BTC is ready to carry gold’s ‘baton’ — Fidelity exec
Cryptocurrency
How the U.S. is Tapping a Much Bigger Well in The Middle East
How the U.S. is Tapping a Much Bigger Well in The Middle East
World News
- Advertisement -

You Might Also Like

A fresh start, but not a free pass
Sports News

A fresh start, but not a free pass

August 7, 2023
‘Facekini’ trend taking off in China amid record-breaking extreme heat – National
World News

‘Facekini’ trend taking off in China amid record-breaking extreme heat – National

July 22, 2023
Jared Triolo’ 1st big league homer leads Pirates over Reds 4-2 in doubleheader opener
Sports News

Jared Triolo’ 1st big league homer leads Pirates over Reds 4-2 in doubleheader opener

August 14, 2023
Orioles fans give Mets manager Buck Showalter a warm welcome back to Baltimore
Sports News

Orioles fans give Mets manager Buck Showalter a warm welcome back to Baltimore

August 5, 2023

About Us

NEWS JUNCTION (NewsJunction.xyz) Your trusted destination for global news. Stay informed with our timely and accurate reporting on diverse topics, including politics, technology, science, entertainment, sports, and more. Count on us for unbiased and reliable updates at your fingertips.

Quick Link

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact

Top Categories

  • World News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Sports News
  • Trend
  • People

Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

    © 2023 News Junction.
    • Blog
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    Welcome Back!

    Sign in to your account

    Username or Email Address
    Password

    Lost your password?