NEW YORK (USA) - Experience is a great teacher, so three years on from his first FIBA Basketball World Cup as the USA national team managing director, Grant Hill is better equipped to put a championship-caliber team together.
WE WILL BE BIG, WE’LL BE REALLY GOOD DEFENSIVELY. WE'LL HAVE SHOOTING.
Grant Hill
The group that Hill assembled for Manila in 2023 was formidable yet lost three times and finished fourth.
That was an improvement on what had transpired four years earlier at the World Cup in China, when Hill was not yet the managing director. The Americans came in seventh at that event.
"I’ll be the first to say I have a better idea and a better understanding of what this is," Hill said to The Athletic.
"And so I will be better, in terms of the World Cup and my role and my responsibility to build the roster."
Hill, with the benefit of hindsight, did put together a very deep and talented team for the 2023 World Cup in Manila.
The American team had this year's NBA Finals MVP, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, and a then up-and-coming Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves.
The team had Minnesota's Anthony Edwards and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, players that have taken the NBA by storm since their appearance in the Philippines.
The team also had newly crowned NBA champions Knicks Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges.
That USA was a young one, though. They fell to Lithuania in the Second Round and after a big triumph over Italy in the Quarter-Finals, fell in close games to Germany in the Semi-Finals and to Canada in the Third-Place Game.
Hill has a very good idea of what the American team's strengths could potentially be in Qatar, although he has not indicated who those players will be.
"We will be big, we’ll be really good defensively," Hill continued. "We'll have shooting. … We'll be fine. We'll have an opportunity to win."
Hill says plenty of players have put their hands up, wanting to compete in Qatar. Those that would potentially make the trip to Doha will have a chance to strengthen their bid of making the USA's Los Angeles Games Olympic roster.
Edwards and Hailburton were included on the American roster for the 2024 Olympics after playing for the team in Manila.
USA will still have a few steps to confirm their spot in Doha. They successfully advanced to the Second Round of the Americas Qualifiers. With a 5-1 record, they are in a good position to be among one of the 7 teams to qualify from the Americas.
"You got a lot of young guys who want to be a part of it, which is great," Hill said. "It’s actually an exciting time. … We’ll be good."
Hill's latest remarks come in the wake of USA Basketball confirming Mark Few, J.B. Bickerstaff and Mark Daigneault will be assistants to coach Erik Spoelstra.
Few, the long-time coach of Gonzaga, was an assistant to Steve Kerr in Manila and Paris.
Hill said in a statement: "I am thrilled to add Mark Few, J.B. Bickerstaff and Mark Daigneault to the USA Basketball Men’s National Team coaching staff,” Hill said.
“Mark Few, a Hall of Famer, is not only is one of the most accomplished NCAA coaches in history but also knows what it takes to guide USA Basketball at the highest levels. Mark Daigneault and J.B. are proven leaders and winners who I'm confident will be extraordinary additions to Erik's staff." FIBA