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Knicks-Nets Villanova chemistry helping to bond Team USA before World Cup

By Jordanna Clark

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 03: Jalen Brunson (L) #11 and Josh Hart #12 of the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team attend a practice session during the team's training camp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV as the team gets ready for the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup on August 03, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 03: Jalen Brunson (L) #11 and Josh Hart #12 of the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team attend a practice session during the team's training camp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV as the team gets ready for the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup on August 03, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Villanova Knicks were the talk of the offseason after New York inked Donte DiVincenzo to a four-year contract in free agency. DiVincenzo joins fellow 2016 Wildcat champions Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart in New York.

Much to the delight of Knicks fans, Brunson and Hart are first-timers on the Team USA roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup that will begin later this month. Three months after a disappointing second-round playoff exit against Miami, fans have already seen Brunson and Hart back in action in exhibition games in Spain.

Brunson and Hart represent the United States with Mikal Bridges, who, like Brunson, won two championships with Villanova in 2016 and 2018. Like Hart, Bridges was traded to NYC in February, but he landed in Brooklyn instead of Manhattan. The trio are back together again for the first time since the 2016-17 collegiate season.

The Athletic’s Joe Vardon (subscription required) wrote a piece describing Team USA’s already present chemistry, and it’s no surprise that the Villanova connection is a highlight.

"Much has been made of the “Villanova reunion” of Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges. Also, Brunson and Hart now play for the Knicks. Bridges and Cam Johnson are not only on the Brooklyn Nets, but they BOTH were traded there from the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant in February."

Team USA’s chemistry highlighted by Villanova Knicks Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart

Bobby Portis, Team USA’s oldest player at 28, called out the Villanova connection:

"“I think most of our bonding has been in the gym,” Bobby Portis said. “Getting up shots, talking with guys. I think some guys have bonded off the court, you know we got a lot of Villanova guys, so those guys hang out a lot, but we’ve just been chillin’ for real."

Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges have only been in New York for six months, but Hart has already “recruited” Bridges to the Knicks several times on social media. His latest attempt was when it was announced that Hart was the last player to join Team USA’s roster.

Although Donte DiVincenzo isn’t playing for Team USA, he’ll at least experience the full Villanova connection playing in the same city as Bridges. The Nets ruled the New York rivalry when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were still around, but that script has since flipped.

Knicks fans have been daydreaming about Bridges joining New York, but he is under contract for three more seasons and won’t be a free agent until 2026. He exploded on the scene after being traded to Brooklyn and averaged 26.1 points per game to close the regular season. The Nets are holding onto him as tightly as they can.

It’s safe to say that Brunson and Hart are on the better New York team, though.

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