Detroit Pistons’ center Andre Drummond has dropped out of Team USA camp, paving the way for Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat to make a claim on the starting center spot.
Droves of NBA stars and superstars have been departing Team USA camp or declining invitations, and another one dropped out of competition on Thursday as Detroit Pistons’ center Andre Drummond removed himself from consideration. This paves the way towards Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo not just making the team but perhaps starting when Team USA begins play in this summer’s FIBA World Cup in China.
Adebayo will be competing against a stocked group of centers, which might have played a part in Drummond pulling out. Still in camp are Brook Lopez, Mason Plumlee, Myles Turner.
There are 16 player still on the roster which must be trimmed down to 12 by August 17th. The list of defections from the team comprises a virtual All-NBA roster, including Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, James Harden, Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Tobias Harris, and now Drummond.
While the center class has been weakened somewhat with Drummond’s withdrawal, competition will still be stiff for Adebayo. It would have been preferable to see him battle a full-strength center group for a spot on the team and a starting role, but winning the starting job against Lopez, Plumlee and Turner would be a remarkable accomplishment nonetheless.
An athletic and yet old-school styled center like Bam Adebayo may appeal to Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich, so he may be able to push the other centers thanks to his style of play.
In just a couple of days, Team USA will begin scrimmaging and practicing with the Basketball Select team in Las Vegas. They’ll suit up against each other between August 5th and 9th as Team USA prepares for the FIBA World Cup in China at the end of August.