Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller and Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. have been chosen for the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team.
The Select Team will practice with the USA Basketball Men’s National Team from July 6-8 in Las Vegas to help prepare that squad to compete in the Paris Olympics.
Miller is an Alabama alumnus, and Smith is an Auburn alumnus.
The second player picked in the 2023 NBA Draft, Miller averaged 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in his rookie season.
The third player picked in the 2022 NBA Draft, Smith averaged 13.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in his first two NBA seasons.
The other NBA players announced as members of the Select Team on Friday were:
· Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren
· Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis
· Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.
· New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy
· Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray
· Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski
· Utah Jazz center Micah Potter
· Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard
· Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs
· Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson
The Select Team also includes guard Langston Galloway, a former NBA player who played in France this season; forward Nigel Hayes-Davis, a former NBA player who played in Turkey this season; and forward Cooper Flagg, the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season who is an incoming freshman at Duke.
Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley will serve as the coach of the Select Team.
“As a former member of the USA Select Team, I know how important and fun this opportunity is for each of these players,” said Grant Hill, USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director. “There is a tremendous amount of talent on this Select squad with the significant job of helping the 2024 USA Men’s National Team as they begin their journey to the Olympics. Each of these athletes will play a role in our preparation as we also develop the national-team pipeline for the future.”
The Olympic men’s basketball tournament will be played from July 27 through Aug. 10 in Paris. The United States will be seeking its fifth consecutive gold medal.
The U.S. Olympic team includes:
· Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo
· Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker
· Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry
· Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis
· Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant
· Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards
· Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid
· Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton
· Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday
· Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James
· Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard
· Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum
Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors is the team’s coach.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. shoots during an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 3, 2024, in Houston.(AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.