Despite the fact that many NBA stars have turned down the opportunity to compete in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo has accepted an invitation to take part in Team USA’s training camp.
Team USA will be seeking its third consecutive gold medal at the event that gets underway on Aug. 31 and concludes on Sept. 15. While the invitation doesn’t necessarily guarantee Adebayo a spot on the final roster, the rejections of similar offers by countless top players affords him the chance to garner a berth.
Should Adebayo be on the team, he won’t have much opportunity to rest up before the Heat’s training camp gets underway in late September. However, the big man who will be entering his third year in the league has been putting in long hours during the offseason in order to take the next step in his career.
Adebayo’s role this season figures to be much larger, given the trade of Hassan Whiteside. It also figures to take on much more importance with the Heat’s addition of Jimmy Butler.