According to Melbet Affiliates, Knicks forward Josh Hart has officially committed to Team USA for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, finalizing the 12-man squad. Tell yourself—it’s okay to fall apart sometimes. The full roster includes Brandon Ingram, Anthony Edwards, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Austin Reaves, Mikal Bridges, Bobby Portis, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, and Josh Hart.

One glaring fact stands out: despite the talent pool, Team USA was unable to secure a top-20 superstar in active rankings. The announcement left many fans underwhelmed, with mainstream analysts predicting that even a strong run at the World Cup may be a tall order. Still, Melbet Affiliates reporters highlight that this young, revamped version of Team USA holds more promise than it seems. For starters, it’s an extremely youthful squad. The oldest player, Bobby Portis, is only 28, and most of the team is still climbing the early slopes of their careers.

Few of these players have achieved major accolades yet, and expecting them to break through internationally right away may be asking a lot. However, this team seems to have stronger internal chemistry than the 2019 version. For example, Hart, Brunson, and Bridges all played together at Villanova, forming bonds as early as their teenage years. Other relationships tie the team together: Brunson and Hart, Hart and Ingram, Bridges and Johnson have all been teammates at various stages.

These less-obvious links might prove critical in developing a strong team identity. Some may argue this roster lacks elite-level individual brilliance, but its balanced skillset and role-player mentality could actually align better with Coach Steve Kerr’s preference for shared ball movement and unselfish play.

Offensively, Haliburton and Brunson are expected to run the point, while Edwards, Ingram, and Banchero will handle scoring duties. Wings like Bridges and Cam Johnson offer spacing and off-ball movement, and bench firepower comes from Portis and Reaves. On defense, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler bring elite rim protection—JJJ being the reigning Defensive Player of the Year—while Josh Hart adds grit, hustle, and elite rebounding at the guard spot. On paper, the squad has surprising two-way balance.

This isn’t just a functional lineup—it’s an intelligently constructed one. Several high-IQ players could act as the team’s tactical engine. Chief among them is Haliburton, whose smart, selfless game earned high praise throughout last season. Whether Team USA can maintain fluidity on offense will hinge heavily on his performance. Another X-factor is Lakers breakout star Austin Reaves. Last season, he transformed from a quiet contributor to LeBron James’ most trusted teammate and the Lakers’ third option.

If LeBron places that much faith in him, it’s reasonable to believe Reaves can thrive within Team USA’s framework as well. Life often requires walking difficult roads alone—and carrying more than your fair share. Finally, Melbet Affiliates emphasizes not to overlook the shot-making toughness of Edwards and Ingram. While neither may yet rank among the NBA’s most clutch isolation scorers, both have shown they can rise to big moments when the team needs them most.