Team USA finishedseventh in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, which Team Spain won, and many questions arose thereafter revolving around the roster that Head Coach Gregg Popovich and other NBA squadrons had put together for the event. One notable exclusion was Bam Adebayo.
Bam, who is a of Yoruba descent, is still not happy he was cut from the team:
I Wasn’t Ready Though... 🥱 https://t.co/ATFrChIigN
— 13am Adebayo💥 (@Bam1of1) May 13, 2020
Team USA in basketball terms has long been seen as an unstoppable juggernaut led by the greatest players in the world. However, as the sport has become more international in scope, the dominance of U.S.-born players has waned – coming to a head in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Not making Team USA likely led to Adebayo pushing himself to greater heights when the 2019-20 season was being undertaken, he's become an All-Star in his 3rd NBA season.
Adebayo had already bested his previous career-high in minutes with 2235, and his per-game numbers of 16.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals conveyed a striking sense of his overall impact on both ends of the court for Miami.
Most notable are those passing numbers. For an astoundingly athletic and burly center, Adebayo’s 333 total assists were just outside the top 20. Not bad for someone who was passed over by Team USA and his impressive play might be his ticket to a guaranteed spot.
