Report: Damian Lillard is Team USA’s First Injury Replacement

Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard didn’t make the 12-man USA Basketball roster for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, but all hope is not lost.

Reportedly, Lillard would be the first to don a Team USA jersey should anyone drop out with an injury.

Per CSNNW:

“He’s the player on deck,” we’re told.

 

Lillard expressed to Jerry Colangelo, director of USA Basketball, his desire to be a part of Team USA in Spain and said he would rejoin the team if his services are indeed needed, the source said. […] “It’s something we did discuss with Damian,” Colangelo confirmed. “We’ll see what happens.”

 

Team USA only kept two “true point guards” in Rose and Kyrie Irving. As of now, Colangelo expects these 12 guys to be on the final roster though he’s monitoring each player’s situation closely.