Boston Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard will get a taste of USA Basketball this summer, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Pritchard will be a member of a USA Select team that is set to practice the Team USA club that will compete at the FIBA World Cup in a few weeks in the Philippines. There will also be scrimmages between the two squads.
Although Pritchard isn’t playing for the US’s official World Cup team, this is a big honor. The Athletic reported that a number of rising stars from across the NBA are also joining this USA Select group. This includes both Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cade Cunningham from the Detroit Pistons, and Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets.
Pritchard is gearing up for his fourth season in the NBA since the Celtics drafted him with the No. 26 pick in 2020. The plucky guard has provided a nice offensive boost off the bench for Boston, combining determined playmaking and effective shooting. Pritchard may still be seeking a larger role than the Celtics can offer, and this could be an opportunity for the former Oregon Duck to showcase himself.
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