Jan 13, 2021; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Tyrese Haliburton will have a hand in helping the USA men’s basketball team win gold in Tokyo — sort of.
The former Cyclone has been picked for the USA Basketball Select Team, which will train with the USA men’s senior national team during its training camp in Las Vegas from July 6-9 before its departure for the 2021 Summer Games.
This will be Haliburton’s second experience with USA Basketball after he helped bring home gold during the 2019 U19 World Cup. The Oshkosh, Wis. native was named to the All-Tournament team after starting all seven games, averaging 24.9 minutes, 7.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and a team-high 6.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
Haliburton’s performance during the U19 World Cup elevated his status on NBA radars leading into his sophomore season at Iowa State, in which he averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game on his way to second-team All-Big 12 honors despite playing in only 22 games due to a wrist injury that cut his season short.
That led to Haliburton being selected 13th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. As a rookie, Haliburton averaged 13.0 points, 5.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals on his way to earning first-team All-Rookie honors and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting.
Other notables on the USA Select Team roster include the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro, New York Knicks’ Obi Toppin and Chicago Bulls’ Patrick Williams.