The 40-year-old Johnson, who hasn’t played for the national team in a year, was one of 12 players named to the lineup for a pair of Basketball World Cup qualification games later this month.
Jordan Bell, Tarik Black, Brian Bowen II, Langston Galloway, Jared Harper, Juwan Morgan, Matt Ryan, David Stockton, Rayjon Tucker, Paul Watson, and Justin Wright-Foreman were also among the players chosen. The majority of the players have come up via the G League and have at least some NBA experience.
Jim Boylen, who guided the Americans to a 1-1 tie in a pair of qualifying games in Mexico last November, will lead the Americans in these qualifiers as well. The Americans report to camp on Friday in preparation for games against Puerto Rico on February 24 and Mexico on February 27, both of which will be held in Washington.
Johnson, a seven-time NBA All-Star who has only played in one game for Boston this season, last represented the United States of America in AmeriCup qualifying in February 2021. Bowen and Stockton have also competed in USA Basketball qualifying games in the past.
The two games next week are the third and fourth of the United States’ six first-round qualifying fixtures. The Americans, who are set to advance to the next round with just one more win, are also scheduled to play Puerto Rico on July 1 and Cuba on July 4.
The FIBA Americas region has four teams competing in four qualifying groups. The top three teams in each group advance to the second phase of qualification, which runs from August to February 2023.
For the first round of qualification from the Americas region, the United States (1-1) was placed in Group D alongside Cuba, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Argentina, Panama, Paraguay, and Venezuela make up Group A. Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay makeup Group B. The Bahamas, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and the United States Virgin Islands make up Group C.
The World Cup will take place in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines from August 25 to September 10, 2023, with games taking place in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines.
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