Multiple NBA rising stars, including Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers, have committed to playing for USA in the coming FIBA Basketball World Cup, according to The Athletic.

As the first overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft, 22-year-old Edwards averaged 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.7 triples at 36.9 percent per game in his third season in the league. He made his debut in both the All-Star Game and the playoffs.

Haliburton, 23, was selected to the All-Star team for the first time this season as well. In his first complete campaign for the Pacers, he has averaged 20.7 points and 10.4 assists per game. He was leading the NBA in assists until elbow and knee injuries sidelined him for two weeks.

Unlike Edwards or Haliburton, both of whom were selected by their teams with lottery picks (top 14), Reaves was undrafted in 2021 and joined the Lakers on a two-way contract. Having been known for his resilience and toughness as a role player, Reaves showed the Lakers that he could do much more. He started in every one of the team's 16 playoff competitions this season and averaged 16.9 points, 4.6 assists and 2.4 triples at 44.3 percent per game. Reaves was always the purple and gold's third- or sometimes second-best-performing player on the court.

The list of committing players released by The Athletic also includes Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets, and Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks. Having joined the Knicks as a free agent last summer, Brunson became the team's ace immediately, dropping 24 points, 6.2 assists and two 3-pointers at 41.6 percent per game. The team would have never advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals without his incredible performance.

Bridges was sent to the Nets in the blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant in mid-February. It didn't take him long to transform from an elite perimeter defender to an ace scorer. He has averaged 26.1 points per game after making 27 appearances for the Nets. Though they were swept by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, Bridges proved that he could handle the burden of playing as a team leader.

Compared with the above five players, Portis has a relatively smaller role in the Bucks, but he makes unique contributions that are bigger than the 14.1 points and 9.6 rebounds he averaged per game. His 2.08-meter height, mobility and 3-point shooting ability enabled him to space the floor, offer qualified rim protection and trustworthy performances in switching.

USA are in Group C with Jordan, Greece and New Zealand in the World Cup in Manila, the Philippines – the other two hosts are Japan and Indonesia. Four years ago, the team finished seventh in the tournament in China, their worst record in history. This time, it will be the first World Cup-Olympics cycle for managing director Grant Hill and head coach Steve Kerr since they took their positions.