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In a follow-up conversation with BasketNews, Collet expanded on his stance. He revealed that he was powerless to oppose France's pursuit of naturalizing Embiid, especially with the decision coming from high-ranking officials. "I couldn't really do that because it was coming from even higher—like the Minister," Collet explained. "It was something big. The Olympic Games were in France, and they thought it was, for us, insurance to be better. But for me, it wasn't that clear," he said.
In a follow-up conversation with BasketNews, Collet expanded on his stance. He revealed that he was powerless to oppose France's pursuit of naturalizing Embiid, especially with the decision coming from high-ranking officials. "I couldn't really do that because it was coming from even higher—like the Minister," Collet explained. "It was something big. The Olympic Games were in France, and they thought it was, for us, insurance to be better. But for me, it wasn't that clear," he said.
“The Olympics now was the next level because now I’m playing Team USA, Serbia, Puerto Rico,” Maluach said. “We’re playing good teams that they have great players, Hall of Famers. Me being able to watch them, being able to step on the floor with them and see the gap I have and what I need to do to get where they are, showed me I’m on the right path. And me playing in the Olympics showed me that whatever I’m doing is right and I should keep on doing that.”
Maluach said Booker was very complimentary and nice to him when he visited with him a couple times during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The South Sudan center also played against Booker and Team USA in an exhibition game in London and during the Olympics last year. “We had a dinner and I went to say what’s up to him because he had his own table. He said to, ‘Go do it,’ and then I shook his hand. He told me, ‘I’ll see you in a year.’ But when he said, ‘See you in a year,’ I know he meant the NBA. Now, I’ll see you with the Phoenix Suns. I will be his teammate.”
The former Knick revealed the story of how he met Bryant on the Run Your Race Podcast. According to him, Bryant spoke to him in Italian after a Team USA practice during the summer of 2008. “I'm watching them practice and the trainer of the Knicks is with me and he was one of the trainers of the Team USA too,” Gallinari said about meeting Bryant. “And he's like listen, stay here a little bit more this practice because Kobe wants to meet you. I’m like really? So I stayed there, I waited, you know he's icing, stretching, you wait maybe an hour after practice. And then you know, not a lot of people in the states can say my name right and there I hear somebody say ‘Hey Danilo come here,’ In Italian ‘Danilo come here.’ Who’s speaking Italian in Vegas at Team USA practice. I look and it's Kobe. So he's walking with the ice on his knees and everything. I'm walking down the stairs and I'm there talking to Kobe. So that was amazing, he gave me shoes. I go back to my room and there is a letter that he wrote for me.”
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Is there a moment that sticks out that you think was your favorite or that you cherish the most? Sergio Rodriguez: Again, it’s tough to choose one, But probably, you know, being in the NBA, winning the three Euroleagues that I had won, playing for Real Madrid, playing for the National Team, Olympic Games of 2012, that we got the silver medal. So there are moments, winning the European Championship and the gold medal at the World Cup in 2006. So there are many moments. And when I see them and reflect on those moments, I feel very grateful.
Hornets assistant Josh Longstaff among candidates for Suns head coaching job
Michael Scotto: Sources: Hornets assistant Josh Longstaff is among the candidates for the Suns head coaching job. He was an assistant for Bulls coach Billy Donovan, former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, Team USA for Jeff Van Gundy, Erie BayHawks head coach, a Knicks assistant, and worked for OKC.
"He impacted more people in our game than anybody," Krzyzewski said. "He's probably the most unique coach ever -- pro, amateur. He's as good as anybody, but I think you can't be like him. He did so many things that it's hard to believe one person could do all that." The two met in Las Vegas when Popovich was in town for Team USA's training camp. Krzyzewski knew the pressure of the position as Team USA's head coach. "Unless you're sitting in that seat, you don't know how it feels," he said. "Everyone is telling you it's going to be a sure thing and all that, and it's not a sure thing."
Before moving to the NBA, Popovich spent 15 seasons in the collegiate ranks, working as an assistant coach on Hank Egan’s staff at the United States Air Force Academy, from 1973-79, before serving as the head coach for the Pomona-Pitzer Colleges from 1979-88. As the head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team, Popovich led Team USA to the gold medal in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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Fredette has been announced as the new Managing Director of 3x3 basketball for Team USA. "When USA Basketball approached me about this role, I jumped at it," Fredette started. "I’m determined to help build a sustainable program for years to come and, ultimately, the best 3x3 program in the world."
With each step USA Basketball’s Nate Ament takes in his player edition Reeboks during the Hoop Summit, he will be giving respect to his mother by showcasing the colors of the Rwandan flag — light blue, yellow and green with a golden sun. “It’s really special for me to be able to do that,” Ament told Andscape. “And it’s a huge tribute to my mom with her hard work and dedication she’s put in and all her hardship that’s comes from Rwanda. It’s a tribute to the country as well. I’m trying to pay back to the country what it’s given to me, the perspective of love that I’ve felt from the country and all the support I’m receiving from them. “But also, it’s just a really cool design. An idea with the colors of the Rwandan flag really fit perfectly with the shoe.”
Amen is the top-ranked uncommitted boys basketball player in the ESPN 100 Class of 2025. The 6-foot-9 Colgan High (Va.) forward is playing with the country’s top high school senior boys basketball players with Team USA against the top international teens in the Hoop Summit. Ament is still undecided on where he will be playing in college next season but could decide soon. Ament is considering offers from Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisville and Tennessee. “Obviously, I’m trying to be respectful of the coaches and their time and effort they are putting into recruiting me,” Ament said. “But I’m really just trying to take time to not rush a decision, to make the right decision. I’m putting in as much time and energy and focus into the right school and making sure that whatever choice I pick, I have no doubts or no second thoughts.”
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