Jalen Brunson is going to have some familiar company in the Philippines this summer.
The Knicks’ star point guard will be joined by Knicks teammate and close friend Josh Hart on Team USA’s national team for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup.
ESPN was first to report the news, and shortly afterwards Hart posted a tweet of two USA flags.
It was already a big Fourth of July weekend for the Knicks, after Hart opted into the final year of his contract rather than become a free agent, which opened up the full mid-level exception for the team to sign former Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo to a four-year, $50 million deal.
DiVincenzo played with Hart and Brunson at Villanova.
Team USA will also include Nets duo Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges.
Hart is eligible for an extension on Aug. 9, six months after he was traded to the Knicks, and it would seem to reason he wouldn’t be playing in the World Cup if there wasn’t an understanding between the Knicks and Hart’s representatives of a deal being already in place.
The max he can receive is a four-year extension worth $81 million.
Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Austin Reaves, Paolo Banchero, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Ingram, Bobby Portis and Walker Kessler are Team USA’s other players that were selected and committed for the tournament.
Team USA’s path through the tournament will start in Group C alongside Jordan, Greece and New Zealand, with group play starting Aug. 25 and Team USA’s first game occurring the following day against New Zealand.
Spain won the last edition of the World Cup in 2019, defeating Argentina in the finals while France and Australia took third and fourth place, respectively.