John Wall is already doing the math. The Washington Wizards point guard admitted in a chat with CSN Washington's Ben Standig that he doesn't expect to be one of the final 12 players selected to head with Team USA to Rio de Janeiro for next year's Summer Olympics.
John Wall doesn’t expect to make Team USA’s 2016 roster
The Wizards point guard says he doesn’t know how he fits into Coach K’s plans.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
“I’ll be out of the picture,” Wall said. “I’m just being honest.”
Mike Krzyzewski has put three point guards on each of the three national teams he's coached since being handed the reins to Team USA in 2008. That first year, at the 2008 Olympics, the three were Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. At the 2012 Olympics it was Paul, Williams and Russell Westbrook. At the 2014 World Championships, Krzyzewski went with Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and Derrick Rose.
Paul participated in last week’s mandatory minicamp and, assuming he remains healthy, is expected to play next summer in Rio. Curry is the reigning league MVP and a player with a perfect skillset for international play.
"Oh, yeah. Ten times out of 10 they'll be on the team," Wall said, referring to Paul and Curry. "Chris Paul has already won one (Olympic gold medal). Steph Curry had an amazing last year and just won the World Cup."
That leaves Wall, Irving, Westbrook, Mike Conley and Michael Carter-Williams fighting for one spot, though Westbrook could slide over to shooting guard. Rose and Damian Lillard didn't participate in the Las Vegas minicamp. In July, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo told ESPN that the minicamp was mandatory for anyone interested in playing in Rio, and so it would seem that Rose and Lillard are now ineligible for that roster. (Kobe Bryant could be an exception, as Colangelo noted last week).
Wall made it clear to CSN Washington that he expects Irving, who already has Team USA experience under his belt and also played one season under Krzyzewski at Duke, to get that final point guard spot.
“Kyrie just won the World Cup. Russell [Westbrook] will probably be on the team. They’ll use him as a two-guard. So, I probably won’t make it,” Wall said.
Wall’s defense and passing would both be huge boons to Team USA, but his three-point struggles would also be problematic. He’s a career 31 percent three-point shooter and shot just 30 percent from deep last season. Irving, on the other hand, shot 42 percent from behind the three-point line last year, while Westbrook is regarded by most as a better and more versatile international player than Wall. James Harden is another player competing for the team who can handle the ball at the top of the key.
The team will eventually be whittled down to 12. It would seem that that group will be taken out of the 18 players listed below.
Point guards: Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook
Wall appears to be right in this case. The 24-year-old two-time All-Star is making it clear that he’s not bitter.
“I think it was a good look anyway,” he said when asked what it was like playing with Team USA. “Great group of guys over there. (USA Basketball director) Jerry Colangelo, Coach K ... All those guys are great people.
“I appreciate everything they do. It’s a good opportunity to represent you country. I would definitely be excited if I got to put a USA jersey on if I get the opportunity.”
See More:
