How 9 Timberwolves can benefit from the 2023 FIBA WC competition

Select Team USA

While Minnesota Timberwolves’ young center Naz Reid is not exactly on the Senior Team USA (the team that actually competes internationally), Select Team USA members are chosen specifically to train with Senior Team USA to aid them in preparing for international competition. And members of Select Team USA are frequently being groomed for a future role with Senior Team USA.

Of course, Naz Reid deserves this honor, as no player has worked harder to secure his place as a positive contributor in the NBA. Because of his intense work ethic, look for him to be a very popular and productive member of Select Team USA.

Select Team USA’s roster includes 14 players who have and will continue to train daily with the USA Men’s National Team from Aug. 3-6 in Las Vegas.  Once training with the senior team is completed, Select Team USA members are eligible to be named as replacements for injured Team USA players.

Team Argentina Coach

Coaching in the 2023 FIBA World Cup competition is a tough business. But for Timberwolves coach Pablo Prigioni, it’s heartbreaking as well. Despite recording an 8-4 record in the qualifying rounds, Team Argentina did not qualify for this summer’s 32-team FIBA World Cup.  That means that Team Argentina will miss the quadrennial world championship for the first time since 1982. Due to a loss to the Dominican Republic, Argentina lost tie-breakers with Venezuela and Brazil.

Of the 32 teams to compete in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, seven teams will compete from the Americas — Canada (11-1), the U.S. (9-3), the Dominican Republic (9-3), Venezuela (8-4), Puerto Rico (8-4), Mexico (8-4) and Brazil (8-4).

The two top teams from the Americas in the FIBA World Cup will qualify to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris, France.