By R.L. Bynum
Cameron Johnson is off to an excellent start playing for the United States basketball team that is preparing for the World Cup.
Johnson came off the bench to share team-high scoring honors with 15 points in his debut in a USA uniform, a 117–74 victory over Puerto Rico on Monday night in Las Vegas in an exhibition game.
Anthony Edwards also had 15 points for the United States.
Johnson, who signed a four-year, $94.5-million deal with the Brooklyn Nets last month, was 7 of 10 from the floor, 1 of 4 from 3-point range, with six rebounds, one steal, one block and was +18.
He told the New York Post that the money isn’t changing him.
“No, same approach: Just get better,” Johnson said. “Get better and still feel — I think the main thing that I’ve always felt since I’ve been in the league is just to prove it. To prove it every day. And work for it every day and improve every day, and I’ll continue that mindset as long as I play.”
The Puerto Rico game marked the end of training camp for the team, which now heads to Malaga, Spain, for the first two of four exhibition games in eight days, facing Luka Doncic and Slovenia at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1) and Spain on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (Fox).
The team’s final two exhibition games will be in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, meeting Greece at noon Friday, Aug. 18 (FS1) and Germany at noon Sunday, Aug. 20 (Fox).
“It means a lot, man. This is such a cool opportunity,” Johnson told the New York Post of playing for the U.S. team. “I think it’s such a great learning experience to play alongside great talent, under great leadership. It’s an opportunity I’m gonna do my best to take advantage of.”
The World Cup is in the Philippines, with group games against New Zealand on Aug. 26, Greece on Aug. 28 and Jordan on Aug. 30.
The Americans are trying to rebound from a seventh-place finish at the 2019 World Cup, its worst in 15 major tournaments since NBA players began to fill rosters in 1992.
U.S. schedule
Remaining exhibitions
vs. Slovenia in Malaga, Spain, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, FS1
vs. Spain in Malaga, Spain, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox
vs. Greece in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, noon, Friday, Aug. 19, FS1
vs. Germany in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, noon Sunday, Aug. 20, Fox
World Cup
Group play
vs. New Zealand in Manila, Philippines, 8:40 a.m. Aug. 26
vs. Greece in Manila, Philippines,, 8:40 a.m. Aug. 28
vs. Jordanin Manila, Philippines,, 4:40 a.m. Aug. 30
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