Team USA has yet to be challenged in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, but that didn't stop head coach Steve Kerr from making a lineup change.
Following blowout wins over New Zealand and Greece, the U.S. started Knicks forward Josh Hart in place of Pelicans star Brandon Ingram. The four other starters — Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Mikal Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. — remained the same.
Hart isn't the star that Ingram is, so what prompted the decision?
MORE: Anthony Edwards leads Team USA to 3-0 record with big win over Jordan
Why Josh Hart started over Brandon Ingram against Jordan
Ingram has been open about his struggles this summer with Team USA.
"This is totally different than what I am used to,” Ingram told The Athletic before the USA's matchup with Greece. “The team is winning right now, so I can’t be selfish thinking about myself. But it’s a little frustrating right now for me, and I’m just trying to figure out ways I can be effective.”
Ingram opened the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup by scoring two points on 1-for-4 shooting against New Zealand. He then scored five points on 2-for-4 shooting against Greece. His highest-scoring game so far (7 points) came against Jordan when he came off the bench.
Only 12 players had a higher usage rating in the NBA last season than Ingram, who plays the role of a point forward on the Pelicans. Touches have been hard to come by for him in Team USA's starting lineup, as he's had to share the ball with Brunson and Edwards. Moving Ingram to the second unit will make him more of a focal point on offense and pair him with an excellent passer in Tyrese Haliburton, as well as a ball mover in Austin Reaves.
“They thought it was a better fit for me playing with Tyrese and playing with some guys that are a little less ball dominant than Jalen and Ant,” Ingram told Yahoo Sports. “They just talked about it being a better fit, and I agreed with them.”
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By contrast, Hart isn't someone who needs the ball in his hands to be effective. He's a dynamic defender and relentless rebounder despite standing at only 6-4. Team USA assistant coach Erik Spoelstra told Kerr that Hart gets to 30-70 balls instead of 50-50 ones. He hustles to no end.
In 20 minutes against Greece, Hart pulled down 11 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass. In 18 minutes against Jordan, he led Team USA with 12 rebounds while taking only two shots. Defensive rebounding is one of Team USA's few weaknesses, so his rebounding is a huge asset alongside Jackson.
Working in Hart's benefit is that he also has experience playing alongside Brunson and Bridges. The three of them were teammates at Villanova for two seasons and remain close friends.
“You just don’t lose it,” Bridges told Yahoo Sports. “Playing with JB all those years and Josh as well, it’s just second nature. All those practices and games we had at ’Nova, it just feels so natural.”
The three of them were involved in a number of plays together against Jordan that led to open 3s for Team USA.
Kerr didn't commit to starting Hart over Ingram for the rest of the tournament, per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, but with how seamlessly Hart fits with the starting lineup, it wouldn't be a surprise if he does choose to stick with it.
