Oregon Basketball's Payton Pritchard to Train with Team USA

The former Oregon Basketball star will get a chance to train with some of the best American basketball players in Las Vegas ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Kaleb Henry | Jun 30, 2024

Jun 21, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) rides in a duck boat during the 2024 NBA Championship parade in Boston. / Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

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First, an NBA Championship. Now, a chance to train with Team USA.

Fifteen athletes have been named tot he 2024 USA Basketball Men's Select Team. The group will train with USA Basketball's Men's National Team as they prepare for the Paris Olympics.

The USA Select Team is made up of 12 current NBA or NBA G League players; two players with NBA, NBA G League, international and USA Basketball experience; and one incoming college freshman with USA Basketball experience. They will will train daily with the USA Men’s National Team from July 6-8 in Las Vegas.

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard reacts after making a half-court shot at the buzzer to end the second quarter.

Jun 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) reacts after making a half-court shot at the buzzer to end the second quarter in game five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. / Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon Basketball's Payton Pritchard is among the 15 players helping Team USA prepare for Paris. The rest of the squad is Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons), Cooper Flagg (Duke University), Langston Galloway (Free Agent), Nigel Hayes-Davis (Fenerbahçe, Turkey), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Golden State Warriors), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami Heat), Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets), Trey Murphy (New Orleans Pelicans), Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings), Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors), Micah Potter (Utah Jazz/Salt Lake City Stars), Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets), Jalen Suggs (Orlando Magic) and Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets).

“As a former member of the USA Select Team, I know how important and fun this opportunity is for each of these players,” Grant Hill, USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director, said. “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.”

Pritchard, fresh off of winning the NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics earlier this month, is one of five returners from the 2023 USA Select Team, which was led by Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley. Mosley is again leading the team.

Jun 21, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) poses for a picture during the 2024 NBA Championship parade in Boston. / Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

“I’m looking forward to returning to Las Vegas and working with the USA Select Team once again,” Mosley said. “Over my three years with USA Basketball, I’ve gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on international basketball while having the opportunity to work alongside some of the best players and coaches in our game.”

The Select Team has been valuable experience for past players to work their way onto the USA Men's National Team. In all, 30 Select Team members have joined USA national teams that have competed at the Olympic Games or FIBA World Cup. This year's team includes six players that were on previous Select Teams: Devin Booker (2016), Kevin Durant (2008), Anthony Edwards (2021), Tyrese Haliburton (2021), Jrue Holiday (2012) and Kawhi Leonard (2012).

The Paris Olympics will take place July 26 to Aug. 11. Team USA will participate in Group C against Serbia (July 28), South Sudan (July 31), and a still to be determined opponent (Aug. 3). The quarterfinals are set for Aug. 6, semifinals Aug. 8, and the Bronze and Gold Medal games Aug. 10.

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Published Jun 28, 2024|Modified Jun 30, 2024

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans.He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team.