Mar 23, 2019; Charlotte, NC, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) reacts after a foul call in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Celtics have the chance to be well represented at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, as Marcus Smart has been added to USA Basketball’s training camp roster, according The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart has been added onto USA Basketball’s training camp roster for FIBA World Cup, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 22, 2019
Smart’s addition comes in a summer full of drops and passes from the NBA’s higher-profiled superstars, of course, but is a noteworthy honor for the tenacious guard, who shot a career-best 42.2 percent (career-best 36.4 percent from deep) last year.
The 6-foot-4 Smart averaged 8.9 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 80 games for the C’s last season overall, while his best season undoubtedly came in 2016-17, when Smart set career-bests in points (10.6) and minutes (30:23) per game.
Smart joins a Team USA training camp roster already featuring Boston teammates Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum, giving Team USA a potentially Celtic Green look heading into the tournament should they make the roster.
Walker, for what it’s worth, has no interest in joining his fellow NBA stars and dropping out of the camp.
Kemba Walker confirms to @TheAthleticBOS he will not be dropping out from Team USA’s FIBA World Cup training camp:
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) July 22, 2019
“I will be there for sure. I could care less about who’s dropping out.”
The United States has won back-to-back tournaments, beating Serbia for gold in 2014 and defeating Turkey for gold in 2010.
