Knicks News: Team USA starts World Cup play, Jalen Brunson FIBA MVP votes
At long last, Team USA will start its 2023 FIBA World Cup journey on Saturday at 8:40 a.m. ET. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and the United States went 5-0 during exhibition play and are favored to win the World Cup.
Brunson didn’t have his best outing in Team USA’s final exhibition win over Germany, so expect the point guard to come out hot against New Zealand. The United States is in Group C with Jordan, Greece, and New Zealand.
Brunson received the third-highest MVP prediction votes from the media at 10.5%, with Anthony Edwards leading the way at 21.1% and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic receiving 13.8%. Just think how exciting this time of the year would’ve been for Mavericks fans if Mark Cuban had signed Brunson to a four-year extension when Dallas had the chance to do so, but alas.
Media votes are in 🗳️ 🎙️#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/F3CsVRABxY
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 24, 2023
The weekend will be full of basketball for Knicks fans, as RJ Barrett and Canada will play its second World Cup game on Sunday at 5:45 a.m. ET after beating Evan Fournier and France on Friday. Fournier and France will also be back in action on Sunday, with a game at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Team USA will play its second game against a Greece team without Giannis Antetokounmpo on Monday at 8:40 a.m. ET. For a look at the full schedule, click here.
More Knicks news
- RJ Barrett had an off-shooting night for Canada in the team’s 95-65 win over France. Barrett had only five points on 1-of-10 shooting. Evan Fournier led France with 21 points but scored only two in the second half.
- In an interview with The New York Times, Giannis Antetokounmpo was uncertain about his long-term future with the Bucks. With the Knicks in search of the right star to trade for, Antetokounmpo is on their radar.
- ESPN predicts the Knicks will have another heated first-round battle in the 2024 playoffs.
NBA news
- The Lakers announced a Kobe Bryant statue will be unveiled on Feb. 8, 2024, at Crypto.com Arena. Los Angeles hosts Denver that day, so the statue will be revealed before tip-off at 10 p.m. ET.
- 2025 NBA Draft prospect Khaman Maluach is on South Sudan’s roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The 16-year-old is the third-youngest player to suit up for a team in the event’s history.
- On Gilbert Arenas’ “Gil’s Arena” podcast, Steph Curry said he believes Luka Doncic will be the next star to take over the league. After the team came up short of the play-in tournament last season, Doncic is entering what will be a pivotal year for him and the Mavericks.
