Julius Randle Invited to Team USA Training Camp

New forward Julius Randle joins center Mitchell Robinson as Knicks reps at USA Basketball’s forthcoming training camp before the FIBA World Cup.

Following multiple NBA stars dropping out of summer competition, USA Basketball is inviting New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle to the training camp ahead of the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Randle, 24, signed a three-year contract worth approximately $63 million with the Knicks during free agency, with a team option in the third year. He’s a 6-foot-9 big man who can play either frontcourt position and Randle previously won a gold medal competing for Team USA’s under-18 squad at the FIBA Americas Championship in Brazil in 2012.

The Boston Celtics’ fourth-year wing Jaylen Brown has simultaneously been invited to USAB’s training camp, too, per Charania.

Randle and Brown joining camp comes in the aftermath of a flood of turn-downs from players like Tobias Harris, Bradley Beal, and first overall pick Zion Williamson on Monday. Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard and San Antonio Spurs swingman DeMar DeRozan pulled out of training camp as well on Tuesday. Team USA won the last two FIBA World Cup tournaments and finished in third in 2006. The 2019 international competition predates the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan—surely the next and largest international spotlight for premier basketball.

New York’s rising sophomore center Mitchell Robinson was recently invited to participate on the USA’s select team, coming into training camp as a warm-up adversary for the A-Team.

Randle last played for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2018–19 season after a three-plus season tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted the Texas native out of the University of Kentucky seventh overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Randle is one of multiple forwards signed by the Knicks during the 2019 free agency period, including Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis, and Marcus Morris.

Previously Knicks to represent the United States abroad include Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony, the latter of whom won three gold medals and is Team USA’s leading scorer and record-holder in games played.

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