Rosters often hold surprises, but when it comes to choosing a head coach, teams tend not to roll the dice. This time, and even though qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar is well on track, the United States has tapped a renowned figure from the bench like Terry Stotts to take charge of Team USA.
At 68 years old, the Iowa-born coach will lead a squad entering the fourth FIBA window, with a game against Chile scheduled for August 27 and another versus Colombia on August 31.
Stotts’ shift in direction is somewhat surprising. In the spring, he interviewed with the Dallas Mavericks for the head coaching job, which ultimately went to Dusty May. In the end, the former Blazers, Bucks, and Hawks boss takes the reins of the United States.
The Selections for the FIBA Window
As is customary in these cases, Team USA arrives at the qualifiers without a raft of NBA stars, with perhaps the most recognizable name being Mike James, who has carved out a substantial career in Europe. Other names that initially catch the eye include James Nunnally or Orlando Robinson. In any case, it should be enough to defeat Chile and Colombia.
Habiendo perdido a finales de junio contra la República Dominicana, Estados Unidos tiene casi asegurada su clasificación con un balance de 5-1, ya que en el grupo son seis selecciones y hasta tres se meten en la cita mundialista.
