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Jayson Tatum, Mason Plumlee make Team USA FIBA World Cup roster

By Kevin Connelly

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Gregg Popovich the Head Coach of the USA National Team speaks to Jayson Tatum during the United States of America Team USA National basketball team training session at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on August 19, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Gregg Popovich the Head Coach of the USA National Team speaks to Jayson Tatum during the United States of America Team USA National basketball team training session at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on August 19, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) /
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Two former Duke Basketball stars will be suiting up for Team USA this fall as Jayson Tatum and Mason Plumlee were both named to the team.

The morning after Team USA’s embarrassing loss in a scrimmage to Australia, the team’s 12-man roster was announced for the upcoming FIBA World Cup.

Former Duke Basketball stars Jayson Tatum and Mason Plumlee made the team after the final cut was Los Angeles Lakers star Kyle Kuzma who is dealing with an ankle injury.

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Kuzma took part in all of the practices and scrimmages until Saturday morning’s loss to Australia where he sat out with an ankle sprain.

While Tatum was considered a lock to make the roster, Plumlee was very much of a question mark but with various big men withdrawing from the team and other players sustaining injuries, Plumlee’s versatility proved to be critical to this team.

While the best players in the country like LeBron James and Stephen Curry are not playing, Team USA still has its sights set on a gold medal.

Along with Tatum and Plumlee, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will coach Harrison Barnes, Jaylen Brown, Joe Harris, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, Donovan Mitchell, Marcus Smart, Myles Turner, Kemba Walker, and Derrick White.

On the bench with Popovich is Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Lloyd Pierce, and Villanova University head coach Jay Wright.

Team USA will have one last scrimmage scrimmage in Australia against Team Canada on Sunday, August 25 at 5:30am EST on NBA TV before heading to China for the FIBA World Cup.

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The Americans will be featured in Group E in the FIBA World Cup along side Japan, Turkey, and the Czech Republic.

While the FIBA World Cup officially starts on August 31, Team USA will take the court for its first game on September 1 against the Czech Republic at 8:30am EST and can be seen on ESPN+.

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