The Detroit Pistons will be represented by two players on Team USA, as it begins a five-game exhibition schedule with a game against Nigeria on July 10. Saddiq Bey will join Jerami Grant on the Olympic team, for at least those games.
Most Pistons fans were surprised when Jerami Grant got named to Team USA and he will be in Tokyo trying to win a gold medal.
Well here is a bigger shock. Wait until fans in Detroit turn on their television sets to watch the Olympic team in action – and Saddiq Bey is wearing the USA jersey!
Late on July 9, it was announced that Bey, a 6-foot-7 wing for the Pistons, was one of three NBA players promoted from the USA Select team to Team USA. (Four players who helped the USA in the qualifying tournament, also moved up).
Sources: Team USA is promoting three Select Team members — San Antonio's Keldon Johnson, Cleveland's Darius Garland and Detroit’s Saddiq Bey — for exhibition games beginning Saturday. Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton will join USAB after Finals.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 9, 2021
Bey, the 19th pick in the 2020 draft, had a great first year. He averaged 12.2 points and 4.5 rebounds with 50 starts. The Villanova product also set several rookie three-point shooting records and was first team NBA All-Rookie.
Saddiq Bey joins fellow Detroit Piston’ Jerami Grant on Team USA
Certainly Bey has had a nice start to his NBA career, but making all-rookie is far different from being picked to play with Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard, as they get ready to try and win an Olympic gold medal.
The real, real on the story is, Team USA has five exhibition games in just eight days, beginning with July 10’s contest (8 p.m., NBC Sports Network) with Nigeria, which has the Pistons’ Jahlil Okafor (although he is doubtful to play due to missing a week of practice with a personal matter).
With three of the 12-member Team USA squad still in the NBA playoffs, USA Basketball did not want to have just nine players available for its exhibition schedule.
Bey obviously showed Team USA coach Gregg Popovich something to get promoted to the big team. However, the pool of talent was limited as seven Select team members are currently out due to injury or COVID-19 protocols.
(Among the Select team injured are the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart. He rolled his ankle in a scrimmage Thursday and is reportedly no longer in training camp.)
Whatever the circumstances, Bey will be practicing and playing with many of the top players in the NBA for at least eight days, and playing against various national teams.
If any of those in the NBA finals get injured, who knows who Popovich might keep. If he looks good – maybe Bey?
To get to see Bey, along with Grant, with the Olympic team during its five tune-up games (it is not an exhibition tour, all games are in Las Vegas) is certainly an added treat for viewers who follow the Pistons.
This can be nothing but a positive for Bey in his development, which means it is a positive for Detroit next season.