Team USA lost to Germany in the FIBA World Cup semifinal and will now play Canada for the bronze medal. Here’s a look at whose stock is up or down with the American basketball team.
Stock up
Austin Reaves: Two years ago, Reaves went undrafted. This year, he was playing in Team USA’s crunch-time lineups, racking up the fourth-most minutes for the American basketball team and shooting 52.4 percent from three-point range. He fit in with the star-studded team seamlessly, which he may have learned while playing alongside superstars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Los Angeles Lakers.
His reliable shooting and selfless game were one reason the United States was crushing other teams’ bench lineups. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Reaves make it among an even more star-studded Olympic team next summer.
Tyrese Haliburton: The Indiana Pacers All-Star guard led Team USA in assists and steals, and he tied with Walker Kessler for most total blocks, all while making half of his three-point attempts. Haliburton showed why Indiana gave him a maximum extension earlier this summer, setting up teammates and playing solid defense. The only knock would be that the highly efficient Haliburton could have looked for his own shot more — but we fully expect him to play — and possibly start — for next year’s Olympic team.
Anthony Edwards: Edwards is another maximum-extension player who made his team look wise for locking him up long-term. On a team full of All-Stars, Edwards was definitively “that dude,” the go-to guy in crunch time who the team relied on when they absolutely had to get a bucket. He also showed defensive intensity that was not always present with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He turned 22 last month, but he played like a veteran. Even in the team’s semifinal defeat, Edwards brought Team USA back to within a point after a huge late deficit. He seemed to elevate his performance as the game went on, especially in crunch time. This will not be the last time we see Edwards starring for the national team.