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Zion, Harden, Davis, Simmons set to play in Australia

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5th June, 2019
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Team USA’s star-studded squad for this year’s tour of Australia and the World Cup in China is starting to form, with James Harden, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard and rookie sensation Zion Williamson among the players pencilled in.

Other players expected to make themselves available for the American squad coached by the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich and Golden State Warriors’ Steve Kerr include the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma and Ben Simmons’ nemesis, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell.

Team USA’s 18-man roster for their August 5 to 8 training camp in Las Vegas will be announced next week.

The team will eventually be cut to 12 players.

The US will play Spain in an exhibition game in Anaheim on August 16 before flying to Australia to take on the Simmons-led Boomers at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on August 22 and 24 and Canada at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on August 26.

The US will open their World Cup campaign in China on September 1 against the Czech Republic.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday Williamson, the Duke University standout expected to be the number one pick at this month’s NBA Draft, has been invited to be a member of a select 10-man squad to compete against Team USA’s 18-man roster in Las Vegas.

If he impresses Williamson could still make the World Cup team.

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Team USA has a history of blooding young stars on their senior squads, including Davis making the the 2012 Olympic roster before entering the NBA.

The Boomers will hold their 18-man camp in early August, before finalising their final 12.

Australia will be stacked with NBA players with Simmons, Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills, Aron Baynes, Joe Ingles, Jonah Bolden and Matthew Dellavedova available.

Mitch Creek and Deng Adel, who had brief NBA stints this season while playing in the NBA G League, are also keen to join the team.

The Boomers have never won an Olympic or World Cup medal.

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