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  MikeCheck: 5 Takeaways from USA training camp as Grizzlies star Jackson thrives in FIBA prep

  LAS VEGAS – The all-world defensive accolades, seven-foot frame and immensely diverse game already made Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. a unique fit for the Team USA roster.

  But there’s another aspect of Jackson’s game that stood out during the national team’s training camp that culminates with Monday’s exhibition opener against Puerto Rico.

  

  “He’s so far ahead of the calls, he knows exactly what we’re doing,” Team USA coach Steve Kerr assessed of Jackson’s impact over the four days of workouts. “He’s bigger and stronger, plush he’s got the experience. He’s more confident with things going on out there on the floor. The actions we’re running, he’s recognizing all that stuff. So, he’s a really great young player.”

  Jackson showcased his entire game, adapted to multiple rotation combinations around him in scrimmages and appears headed for starting and starring roles in Team USA’s preparation for the FIBA World Cup. That’s why it came as little surprise when, according to a poll taken by The Athletic of the USA’s 12-man roster, Jackson was voted most impressive player in training camp.

  

  Jackson, who turns 24 next month, insists the work of maximizing his time with the national team is far from done. Monday night’s tune-up against Puerto Rico is the first of five exhibitions Team USA will play in the weeks leading to the Aug. 25 start of the FIBA World Cup.

  The 32-team field is competing for qualifying spots in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Team USA can qualify for an automatic bid at this stage by finishing among the top two teams from North, Central and South America.

  Jackson, the NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year and two-time, first-team All-Defensive team selection has had dominant stretches on both ends of the court in camp scrimmages. He was effective in catching and scoring in the paint, stepping out to show his three-point range and by operating smoothly in pick-and-roll sets with various guard combinations.

  “He definitely got in his bag a little bit,” Team USA guard and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said of Jackson. “He can do so many things, but he doesn’t try to do too much. He just stays within his game, which makes it easy to play with him.”

  

  Jackson is eager to continue building chemistry with a revamped national team roster of young stars who have never played in either a FIBA World Cup or in the Olympics.

  “It’s no major adjustment because these are the best players in the world, and they can adjust very well,” Jackson said. “It’s not like I’m playing with people who don’t know the game. We’ve got great guards and great wings with us. So, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

  Jackson’s seamless transition from Grizzlies’ catalyst to Team USA standout is one of many encouraging developments from the national team’s initial FIBA World Cup preparations.

  Here are four other key takeaways from Team USA’s training camp stint in Las Vegas.

  PREPARE FOR BRUNSON’S BREAKOUT

  When Kerr called off the rest of an intense scrimmage after a Blue team possession resulted in a defensive stop and a rare Jalen Brunson breakaway dunk in transition, it spoke volumes.

  “I mean, how can you possibly top that?” an impressed Kerr raved about the 6-foot-1 New York Knicks point guard. “He’s just a natural leader. He gets everyone involved. Everyone gravitates to him, listens to him and wants to play with him.”

  Fittingly, some of Jackson’s best work during scrimmage sessions came in the two-man, pick-and-roll sets with Brunson running the offense. There may not be a bigger breakout candidate on the FIBA World Cup stage than Brunson.

  

  In the past year, he’s emerged from Luka Doncic’s shadow in Dallas to sign a lucrative, free-agent deal in New York and then led the Knicks to their first playoff series victory in 10 years last season. Now, in less than a week, he’s pushed to the front as Team USA’s playmaking catalyst.

  As Steph Curry’s coach with Golden State, Kerr knows plenty about elite-level point guard play. Kerr has been evasive in settling on a starting lineup. But three players he’s used consistently in the primary group have been Brunson, Jackson and Pelicans swingman Brandon Ingram.

  “Everybody here is sacrificing for what’s best for the team,” Brunson said. “I’m just trying to use my voice and lead. That (role) comes naturally for me. I’m just trying to do what I always do.”

  REAVES RELISHES REMARKABLE JOURNEY

  A remarkable and meteoric journey for Arkansas native Austin Reaves just keeps getting better each time he steps onto the court.

  A little more than a year ago, Reaves was on a two-way developmental contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, he’s a valued reserve on Team USA’s 12-man roster headed to the FIBA World Cup in hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics.

  “It’s been a crazy ride man,” said Reaves, who grew up a 90-minute drive from Memphis in tiny Newark, Arkansas. “In some ways, it seems like it happened so quickly. But in other ways, it’s kind of taken a long time. I just want to keep putting in the work to keep this going.”

  

  The son of parents who both played basketball at Arkansas State, Reaves emerged as a cult hero of sorts for the Lakers as their third-leading playoff contributor last season at 16.9 points, 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game. He signed a four-year, $56 million deal in free agency last month to stay with the Lakers, who advanced to the Western Conference finals.

  A highlight of Reaves’ blossoming career occurred last season when more than 100 supporters came to FedExForum to watch his breakout, first-round series against the Grizzlies.

  “That meant everything,” said Reaves, who joins Brunson and Haliburton in Team USA’s rotation of playmaking point guards. “Now, the goal is to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.”

  DUREN, SELECT TEAM MAKE HUGE IMPRESSION

  As Kerr dismissed the Select Team of young and rising NBA players after an impressive weekend of scrimmage sessions against the senior national team, he did so with a caveat.

  “We’ll certainly see some of these guys again,” Kerr said. “They’ve done a tremendous job, and now they’re in the pipeline of talented young players we are excited about in this system.”

  

  Among those making the biggest impressions from the Select Team were Pistons teammates Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2021 draft, was limited to just 12 games last season because of a stress fracture in his leg. Duren, a 6-11 center who spent one season at the University of Memphis, was a lottery pick in 2022.

  The duo combined to lead the Select team to wins in two scrimmage periods open to the media during a weekend set against the deeper and more accomplished USA roster.

  With Cunningham and Duren emerging, and new coach Monty Williams guiding a team that also features promising young guards Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson, the Pistons could make a leap in the East very soon. Much like Oklahoma City did in the West during last season’s ahead-of-schedule push into a Play-In Tournament spot.

  NO EASY PATH FOR USA

  Team USA is trying to bounce back from its worst-ever, seventh place finish in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. However, the Americans have won four consecutive gold medals in the Olympics. 

  After facing Puerto Rico, the Americans will travel to Spain to continue preparations with back-to-back exhibitions this weekend against Slovenia and Spain. From there, it’s on to Abu Dhabi for the final tune-ups against Greece (Aug. 18) and Germany (Aug. 20).

  

  Team USA will open FIBA World Cup play in Group C on Aug. 26 against New Zealand in the Philippines, where they are also bracketed with Jordan and Greece.

  Team USA’s roster is obviously NBA-heavy, but there are multiple national teams stocked with elite talent from the league. Canada and Australia each has 10 NBA players listed on its FIBA World Cup roster, while Serbia, France and Germany each has four NBA players.

  Michael Wallace
  Published on Aug 07, 2023

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