Zion Williamson gets Team U.S.A. invite ahead of 2019 FIBA World Cup and 2020 Olympics

Things just keep getting better for Zion Williamson. The presumptive #1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, one that will likely place him in an New Orleans Pelicans jersey at the start of next season, has now been formally invited to take part for team USA camp.

If he accepts, Zion will be part of a 10-man “select” squad of younger players that have a shot to make U.S.A. Basketball’s Senior National Team that will represent the United States in the 2019 FIBA World Cup as well as the 2020 Olympics.

This was confirmed by U.S.A.B. chairman, Jerry Colangelo in a phone interview.

“We want to indoctrinate (Williamson) in terms of U.S.A. Basketball,” Colangelo said. “We want to give him a platform to see how he can compete with some of the vets that are going to be there.”

He’ll only make the FIBA World Cup roster if his play shows that he belongs. Injuries and superstars denying invitations also play a part too when it comes to non-Olympics participation. In other case, it would be impressive if he was to make the squad in just 1.5 months after being drafted — a team that’s already packed with established All-Stars and NBA superstars.

As Colangelo noted in the call, Zion may follow the same path as maybe-(maybe not)-teammate Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans started out on the select team before being promoted to the full 12-man roster for the London Olympics in 2012 even though Davis had never played a game in the NBA at that point.

The FIBA World Cup tournament will be played in China later this year spanning approximately two weeks from August 31 until September 15th.