The U.S. men’s basketball team may soon have to rely on players not good enough to make an NBA roster to make the 2019 Basketball World Cup because of a shift in the FIBA qualifying schedule in 2017.
Two of the four new windows, November and February, are during the NBA’s regular season. That shift could cause Team USA to use alternative methods of qualifying, including using NBA Development League players.
"They have difficulties in getting NBA players for qualification, but they have certain depth. They are discussing different opportunities together,” FIBA's sports and competitions director Predrag Bogosavljev told ESPN.com. “One of them is using the D-League. But there are also some other options. But they will participate and find the best way to do it."
Of course, there are a large number of international players in the NBA, which means Team USA wouldn’t be the only one affected. Not only that, but the shift in qualifying windows also would interfere with the NCAA schedule of coaches such as Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke.
"It's going to be very unusual, of course," Bogosavljev said. "But from one side, we have opportunities for young players to play and start being with the national team ... no matter how much talent you have, you have to grow, and those games will help them to grow."