Donovan Mitchell Team USA
Photo: FIBA.Basketball

The assistant coach of Team USA, Jay Wright, stated that the NBA players could not play in both the Olympics and the Basketball World Cup.

Here is what Wright told Forbes’ Adam Zagoria:

“It was almost impossible for guys if they wanted to play in the Olympics to play this summer. Two consecutive 45-day commitments.

It’s really tough the way FIBA has it set up, back-to-back, it was really hard on the USA guys. And that’s why we were so appreciative of the guys that played. Some of those guys are going to be on the team next year, too.”

Team USA finished 7th in the Basketball World Cup.