Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Along the way, when asked this season of his eventual Olympic job, Spoelstra had made clear that USA Basketball Managing Director Grant Hill and Team Director Sean Ford are keeping him up to speed, while also respectful of his day job. “Right now, there’s not a whole lot of action going on,” Spoelstra said. “I’ve kept in touch with both Grant Hill and Sean Ford, and we met up probably two months ago. But it was more general talks of two summers from now and scheduling, and what that’ll look like. We’ll probably get together in some fashion this summer for a little bit more extended time. I don’t know if we’ll do anything with players, but certainly we’ll meet. “I love the whole process, so of course when we play and compete against teams, there’s players that will come to mind. But I’m not sweating that right now. That’s really for Grant. It’ll be a collaborative effort. But there’s plenty of time for that.”
There are teams with varying levels of interest in Morant — Minnesota, Sacramento and Milwaukee to name a few — but Miami has quickly emerged as an attractive option to Morant and his camp in recent days, sources say. The Heat have historically been regarded as one of the NBA’s most detail-oriented and structured organizations, a major aspect of development that appeals to Morant, who has missed 34 games due to various suspensions. Morant also has a deep respect for Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who also runs Team USA; Morant desires to represent his country in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Miami’s veteran presence is an additional selling point and something Morant craves.
Oh No He Didn't: Shams: What team USA moments that you remember you're like man that's a great lesson for me like I'mma take this back?" Anthony Edwards: "Probably Stephen Curry. No matter what he always stuck with the work. That's what like opened my mind to like never go against the work...then he always said don't worry about it it's gonna fall. The games that we needed him the most he came through. I think that was super special"
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2026, featuring several high-profile first-time nominees. Notable new candidates for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 include the 1996 USA Basketball Women's National Team, Mike D’Antoni, Jamal Crawford, Elena Delle Donne, Blake Griffin, Joe Johnson, Candace Parker, Bruce Pearl, and Kelvin Sampson. Marv Albert, Mark Few, Doc Rivers, and Amar’e Stoudemire are among returning eligible candidates.
“The candidates for the Class of 2026 have each left an indelible impact on the game of basketball,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “Through defining performances, influential leadership, and achievements that helped elevate the sport on the national and international stage, this year’s ballot recognizes those whose legacy continues to shape how the game is played, coached, and celebrated.”
Advertisement
Caitlin Clark is back on the floor and healthy, playing basketball with Team USA last week. It was her first formal five-on-five basketball since mid-July, and I wrote about her health and recovery here. It's a significant story in sports in general that one of the biggest stars on the planet is playing again. For the Indiana Fever, who were on the doorstep of reaching the WNBA Finals despite not having Clark in the postseason, it's tremendous news. Her health next season will be a priority, and if she's available for the 2026 postseason the Fever should be a title contender. The other story from Clark's time with the red, white, and blue was exactly that – her return to the national stage. She was one of the 17 players invited to Durham, North Carolina to be a part of USA Basketball Women's National Team Training Camp.
"I think anytime you can do a USA Basketball related camp... This is the biggest honor you can possibly have playing basketball in our country is wearing USA across your chest," Clark shared. "I'm just excited to be here and honored... surrounded by a lot of really great players. Some that haven't played in an Olympics before and then others that have a medal or multiple medals. So I think it's been a fun group to be around." The new era of USA Women's Basketball is coming, and Clark will be one of the faces of it. This is the start of an Olympic cycle, with the next games coming in 2028 and being held in Los Angeles. Team USA has won the gold medal in Women's Basketball every year since 1992, though they were tested in the most recent Olympics – they beat France by just one point in the title game.
Grant Hill: I think you you know, the World Cup and and the Olympics are very different. Um, you know, I think the Paris Olympics in 24 certainly hopeful with the 28 Olympics in Los Angeles, players wanted to play. They wanted to be a part of that and we're real grateful and thankful for that. You know, it's a little bit of a of a tougher sell with the World Cup if I'm being honest. And so, it's an opportunity, I think, to really the idea of really truly building a roster. And, you know, I loved the guys that we had in in in 2023 in World Cup. And, uh, we came close. You know, we [clears throat] we we we competed, we played hard. Offensively, we were the most efficient offensive team since 2004 in in terms of USA basketball. We were also the the least uh efficient defensive team since 2004.
Kerr said he has zero doubt that Spoelstra is ready for the challenge and all that comes with it. “He was a great choice,” Kerr said before the Golden State-Miami game. “He’s one of the great coaches of all time. Great awareness of what FIBA is about, the difference between coaching a team for seven weeks and coaching one for nine months, all of that stuff. He’s just got his finger on the pulse of it all. He’s going to be great.”
USA Basketball today announced the 12-man roster and coaching staff for the November 2025 USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team, which will play Nicaragua in Managua, Nicaragua, and in College Park, Georgia, on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1, respectively. The 12 athletes slated to compete for the USA have professional experience in the NBA, NBA G League and internationally with six players having prior USA Basketball experience. The November 2025 USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team includes MarJon Beauchamp, Pedro Bradshaw, Garrison Brooks, Torrey Craig, Kessler Edwards, Kyle Guy, Nate Hinton, Brandon Knight, Jaden Shackelford, Javonte Smart, Jeremiah Tilmon and Ryan Woolridge.
Advertisement
Draymond Green: "And lastly, I think the question that everyone has is — with the growth of Wemby, and obviously Joker — who Joker is — and obviously Shai being who Shai is — is, are we worried about the next Olympics?" "And I'm gonna say, [__] no, because I'm an American. And that's what we do — we win the Olympics. So until somebody stop that, I see no reason to be worried about them. Period."
Hill said there have not yet been any discussions about whether Spoelstra’s tenure as Team USA’s head coach will extend beyond the 2028 Olympics. “His leadership skills, basketball intellect, ability to connect with people, players, his staff, his ability to collaborate just kind of checked all the boxes,” Hill said of Spoelstra. “I came away even more impressed with him as a coach, as a leader, as a man, as a father, and he’s thrilled. We are thrilled. I mean, we got our guy.”
We would like to name you as the next coach for the USA Basketball (men’s) national team, and, do you accept? “No hesitation, without a doubt,” Spoelstra characterized his answer to the two men in a subsequent interview with The Athletic. “I mean, I had goosebumps. It still was surreal and still was a surprise. Even going to dinner, it’s such an incredible honor. I’m absolutely humbled by it, honored by it. “You know it’s a dream to be able to have an opportunity to represent your country. And as the head coach, you understand the responsibility and the expectations and the legacy of the program. And that’s why it feels like such an honor, you know, to be selected as the head coach.”