WITH roughly two weeks before the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup, Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. was selected by his peers as Team USA's best player in its ongoing training camp.
See This projected Team USA Starting 5 capable of going all the way?
In an informal poll by American sports news outlet The Athletic on all 12 World Cup-bound USA stars, the 2023 NBA Defensive of the Year emerged as the 'most impressive' cager in their four-day Las Vegas training camp.
Three of Jackson Jr.'s fellow national team debutants gave the 23-year-old big man his flowers for his work ethic, versatile performance, and impactful presence in Team USA's World Cup camp thus far.
The three players were Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Paolo Banchero.
Hart underscored the 6-foot-10 center's 'energy and toughness' — echoing Banchero's impression of the Grizzlies star as a 'huge presence' in the team.
Brunson, meanwhile, simply described Jackson Jr. as a 'force' after playing alongside him in their first few scrimmages.
The trio also received votes from the squad along with the likes of Anthony Edwards, Brandon Ingram, Tyrese Haliburton, Bobby Portis, and USA Select Team member Cade Cunningham.
A packed month for the five-time world champions continues with a tuneup game against fellow World Cup contender Puerto Rico and a final trip to Malaga, Spain.
From there, the world No. 2 side will head to the Philippines to kick off the tournament's group phase against New Zealand on August 26 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
