OKC Thunder Standout Discusses Team USA Experience

Two Oklahoma City players have been training with Team USA this summer to help prepare the American team for the FIBA World Cup.

Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have been working hard over the summer.

After an impressive one-game outing for Williams in the Utah Summer League and a solid showing from Holmgren in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, the two Thunder teammates are getting more practice under their belt in Nevada, this time with the American national team.

While Williams and Holmgren aren't on Team USA's competitive roster at the moment, they were chosen for the Select Team, which is essentially a practice squad that helps the American national team train for their FIBA World Cup matches, which tips off on Aug. 25. 

"It was a good experience overall," Williams said. "I think anytime you're able to get into the gym and to, you know, obviously compete at the level we're competing at, you know, it's definitely a blessing. Obviously, I got to do it with Chet (Holmgren) too, which was dope." 

Holmgren and Williams are joined on the Select Team by Cade Cunningham, Langston Galloway, Jalen Duren, Jalen Green, Quentin Grimes, John Jenkins, Herb Jones, Eric Mika, Trey Murphy, Keegan Murray, Payton Pritchard and Naz Reid. While none of these players are currently slated to play for the competitive roster, Williams, Holmgren and the rest of the Select Team has the chance to be called up to the American national team if there is an injury or other extenuating circumstance. 

Williams, who had an impressive rookie season and provides more versatility than most of the other prospects on the Select Team, seems to have a good chance at getting called up if one of Team USA's players does suffer an ailment. 

During his first year in the NBA, Williams averaged 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 52.1% from the field. After the All-Star Break, Williams averaged 18.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

The Santa Clara product's stellar season earned him First-Team All-Rookie honors and the runner-up spot in the Rookie of the Year race. Paolo Banchero, who was crowned the NBA's 2023 Rookie of the Year, is on Team USA's competitive roster.

While Williams will have to compete with Cunningham for a call-up spot on the American national team, the experience and training has been valuable to the 22-year-old. 

"I was telling our coach it's probably the best runs you'll have all summer," Williams said. "Everybody's competing, everybody's trying to share the ball, everybody's playing hard, everybody's talented."

Williams and Holmgren reportedly helped lead the Select Team to two victories over Team USA's competitive roster in practice scrimmages, showing that despite the group's youth, they are filled with talented competitors. 

"It was really good runs," Williams continued. "Hopefully they're able to do their thing in the world cup and stuff like that. I think everybody kind of took pride in, you know, getting ready for that."

This competition will only make the American national team better, as they likely won't face many international teams with as good of a squad as the Select Team. For Team USA, Canada, Australia, France and Germany will likely be the biggest competitors for the title, as they have a slew of talented professional players.

Fellow Thunder standout Josh Giddey is slated to play for Team Australia while Lu Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are on Canada's national team. Additionally, former Oklahoma City guard Dennis Schroder is on Team Germany and current OKC wing Ousmane Dieng is on France's Select Team. 

The 2023 FIBA World Cup will begin on Aug. 25, with Team USA making their debut against New Zealand at 7:40 a.m. CT on Aug. 26.

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