SAITAMA, Japan — Damian Lillard was nearly flat on his back, trying to save a possession the U.S. couldn’t afford to lose.
Both were cut in previous attempts to wear the red, white and blue but have returned to become two of the most important players on this year’s team. They both were in the starting lineup Sunday and Adebayo was one of the Americans’ best players, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.The Miami Heat star was in training camp with the Americans in Las Vegas but was dropped by coach Gregg Popovich before the team left for China and an eventual seventh-place finish in the Basketball World Cup.
“I didn’t feel like I was above being cut or anything, I just felt like the time that was spent in the offseason, I just felt like I wasn’t given a great opportunity to make the team or make a different impression than that,” Lillard said. “So I think that that’s why it was a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth after leaving the team and I just decided for a few years that it just wasn’t something that I wanted to do.
USA Basketball officials usually just named their 12-player roster in the Olympic years but have made cuts a few times before the worlds. Trying to tell players they’re not wanted at the time but might be in the future is something Colangelo has to navigate.
Who cares sportsnet it's the American team
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