A Look Ahead: Predicting Argentina’s 2020 Olympic Men’s Basketball Roster
With all the drama of the NBA free agency and the recent FIBA tournaments, it seems fitting to get in on the basketball fever. This will be the first article in a series of posts that will be trying to predict the men’s basketball teams rosters for the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
I was fortunate to get someone who specializes in the sport of basketball to join me. David Stol, a young writer for Canada Basketball, a freelancer and blogger has agreed to add his expertise. David often writes on young talent, international players and is familiar with the various leagues outside of North America.
The lists will be broken down in three separate categories. The categories will be “Starters”, “Bench” and “Potential Young Prospects”. The lists will have at least twelve players to fill out the Olympic rosters and we will give our explanations for the picks.
If you would like to follow David Stol’s blog, “Ball With Stol”, a link is provided below. Now lets get to the lists.
David
Few countries boast a richer basketball history than Argentina. The country stands as the only national team in the FIBA Americas zone that has won the quintuplet crown (a ridiculous name but a hallmark achievement): FIBA World Cup (they won the first edition, in 1950), Olympic Gold Medal (2004), FIBA Diamond Ball (2008), FIBA AmeriCup (2001 and 2011) and Pan American Gold Medal (1995). They’ve also won 13 South American Basketball Championships and went from having one of the ugliest jerseys to one of the best in the world between 2013–2014 (one of their biggest achievements to date).
The nation has also produced top-level talents such Luis Scola and future Hall-of-Famer and current geriatric, Manu Ginobili. Yet, as the team likely gets set to head into the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, they’ll be looking to avenge an eighth-place finish in Brazil, just two years ago.
Argentina has put themselves in good position to make it back to the Olympics, placing second in the FIBA Americup back in 2017, while consistently producing young talent and earning third place at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship earlier this summer.
Aside from the Canadian and USA national teams, Argentina is without a doubt my favourite national team to watch. The Argentinians run an offence not based on star-power, but on spacing (often with at least four elite perimeter shooters), rapid ball-movement, and a deadly fast break. This European-esque style of play has been a staple of the Argentinian program for years and because of this consistency, they tend select their players based off what role they can specifically add to the offence, rather than a broader accumulation of talent that you might see on a USA national team.
That being said, this article is going to set out to predict the Argentinian national team heading into the Tokyo Olympics in a couple years’ time.
David’s Starters:
Facundo Campazzo (PG) — Current Age: 27
Throughout his career thus far, Campazzo has already made quite a name for himself throughout the European basketball world. Campazzo began playing for the Argentine League club Peñarol Mar del Plata in 2008 and was named the Argentine League Newcomer of the Year following the season. He then went on to become the Argentine Cup MVP in 2010. Campazzo was also named the Super 8 Tournament MVP in 2011 and 2013, and the Argentine League Finals MVP in 2012 and 2014.
Campazzo’s career eventually led him to a slew of championships and accolades, including a EuroLeague title with Real Madrid, where he still plays to this day. Campazzo started for Argentina’s 2017 national team and was also apart of two previous Olympic teams in 2012 and 2016. He isn’t particularly athletic, and he’s not taller or stronger than his opponents, but he does a lot of little things to near-perfection and he’s lightning-quick, making him a valuable component to the national team. He’s an adept passer, can space the floor as a dependable (but not deadly) shooter, and has (as most Argentinian players do) an above-average basketball IQ. Despite Campazzo’s defensive shortcomings, I think he’ll be a formidable starting point guard for the Argentinians in Tokyo.
Patricio Garino (SG) — Current Age: 25
Despite representing the Argentinian national team, Garino went to both high school and college in the USA. He attended one of the country’s most prestigious prep schools, Monteverde Academy, before following his high school coach and spending four seasons at George Washington University. In his final season at university, he helped guide the Colonials to the 2016 NIT Championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
But at 25 years old, Garino is fairly unproven for his age. He’s had some time in the NBA realm, but was waived shortly after signing with Orlando in April of last year. He’s shown flashes throughout his time with professional teams and with Team Argentina but has yet to prove his consistency.
Garino played 24.8 MPG in the Olympics two years ago, but only scored a disappointing 6.8 PPG and it was a mystery whether his deadly catch-and-shoot ability was going to show up day-to-day. However, when Garino stepped back out onto the international stage last summer, he rose to the occasion. He averaged a respectable 13.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 2.8 APG throughout the 2017 FIBA Americup while averaging the fourth-most minutes on the team.
Garino is a prime example of a two-way player. He’s been known as a streaky shooter since high school and, with good size for his position, made himself into a staunch defender. Garino has been the pillar of Argentina’s perimeter defence for years with an ability to guard multiple positions and force turnovers along the way. His two-way play will surely make him a go-to option for Argentina in two years time but finding consistency will be the key to the success of Garino’s game and Argentina’s offence.
Nicolás Brussino (SF) — Current Age: 25
After suffering a congenial heart condition a few years back, Brussino has battled back to revitalize his career in a variety of leagues. Brussino scored well throughout his latest stint with the Argentinian national team, scoring 14.5 PPG on 53.8 FG% in the Americas World Cup Qualifier, making himself a standout and earning himself a spot in the starting lineup. Brussino’s rebounding is disappointing for his size, but he’s built up a wealth of international experience and his scoring prowess will be a key to the pace-and-space offence of Argentina in 2020. He barely played in Argentina’s previous Olympic run but following four years of development and rehabilitation from his condition, Brussino will be deserving of more minutes this time around.
Luis Scola (PF) — Current Age: 38
As a captain on the Argentinian 2017 FIBA Americup team, it’s hard to see Scola not being apart of this iteration of the Argentinian national team. Yes, he’s well passed his prime. Yes, he no longer holds a spot in the NBA. But Scola’s ability to play an inside-out role in the Argentinian offence as well as his documented dedication to the program is impossible to look passed. When 2020 rolls around, Scola will likely play a similar role to the one I hope Ginobili plays; one which relies on a savvy understanding of the system while mentoring young prospects.
Regardless of Scola’s up and down career in the NBA, he has a game which fits the international competition of the Olympics to a tee and an approach which will no doubt prove invaluable to an Argentinian team craving experience.
Marcos Delía (C)— Current Age: 26
Delía has been apart of the Argentinian national program for years and was a key member of the team’s 2017 FIBA Americup roster, playing as a starter throughout the tournament. He’s played professional basketball within the Argentinian leagues for nearly his entire career and has just made the move to Spain in recent years, making him a true expert on the Argentinian basketball culture.
Delía isn’t the versatile passer or a floor spacer like other Argentinian big men such as Scola, but he’s a big body who can clog the lane and earn second-chance points off of offensive rebounds. He’s not the flashiest player in the world, but he’s proven to be a strong piece in the Argentinian front line and will hopefully be a pillar of the defence heading into Tokyo.
David’s Bench:
Manu Ginobili (SG) — Current Age: 40
This may seem like a low-percentage prediction, but I just can’t bare to imagine an Argentinian Olympic team without Ginobili. Ginobili chose not to play in the 2017 FIBA Americup, but it’s harder to imagine him saying no to the opportunity to represent his country on the biggest international stage for (most likely) the final time. Ginobili is coming off a surprisingly productive season with the San Antonio Spurs, despite his age and the mileage his body has faced. However Father Time is undefeated. Ginobili said back in 2014 that there was a “98 percent” chance that he’d never play for Argentina again, but after coming back just two years later, I have faith that he might just have one more ride in him.
Ginobili may be able to pull off playing at a respectably-high level at the ripe age of 42 in Tokyo, but at 46? That would be ridiculous. No, if Ginobili plays, this will be the last time and I just can’t imagine him turning down that opportunity.
Even if he becomes rapidly unproductive over the next two years (assuming he’ll retire from the NBA sometime between now and 2020), he’ll still play an important role in helping young prospects learn the offence with his unmatched IQ. Maybe this is a prediction based on emotion, but I refuse to consciously leave a top-three all-time international player off of an Olympic roster.
Nicolás Laprovíttola (PG) — Current Age: 28
Backing up Campazzo will most likely be Laprovíttola, who just took over the title of “Least Favourite Name for Me to Type in this Article.” However, Laprovíttola’s name seems short compared to his career so far. At just 28 years old, Laprovíttola’s collected 11 years of professional experience, highlighted by a stint with the San Antonio Spurs in 2016.
Laprovíttola has a tight handle, can run the pick and roll effectively, and has good passing vision to go along with his 6’4” height advantage. He’s been turnover prone for essentially his entire career, which has been a consistent knock on his game, but adding size and an ability to shoot to the point guard position off the bench will be huge for the international game.
Carlos Delfino (SF) — Current Age: 35
This pick is a bit of a flyer, but I couldn’t possibly look passed a former Toronto Raptors legend. Aside from playing for Toronto years ago, Delfino made his mark all around the NBA, playing for three other NBA teams over the years in Detroit, Milwaukee, and Houston. However, Delfino’s career has been rattled by injuries for the past decade, effecting not only his career with professional teams, but with the national team as well.
Delfino was forced to sit out from international competition for years due to his array of nagging injuries, but after returning in 2016 and playing a promising 17.4 minutes per game, I think there’s a good chance that Delfino joins Ginobili and Scola for (potentially) one last ride with Argentina. Delfino has been known as a defensive pillar throughout his entire career and, although much of his speed has been stolen by injuries and age, he ‘ll still be able to contribute heavily as a perimeter defender while spreading the floor on offence.
Javier Saiz (PF) — Current Age: 23
Saiz, a young undersized center for the Argentinian FIBA Americup team, will be a fringe-prospect for the Olympics. At just 6’9”, Saiz relies on his athleticism on defence, but still struggles to rebound among other big men. In 21.7 MPG, Saiz averaged just 3.6 RPG and never established himself as a shot-blocker. However, he’s still a young prospect and two more years of learning the game can do a lot for a player. I wouldn’t be surprised if he continued to work on his offensive game and came into Tokyo as a valuable asset.
Gabriel Deck (PF) — Current Age: 23
Deck has come a long way already early in his career. From ranking second-to-last in MPG in the 2016 Olympics to playing the most in the 2017 FIBA Americup, Deck has become a central figure of Argentina’s future.
In 2016, Deck joined the Argentine club San Lorenzo, where he won the 2018 FIBA Americas League championship with the team, while also being named the Grand Final MVP. Deck also was the top scorer of the competition, with 19.1 PPG over 8 games.
He averaged 12.8 PPG and 6.4 RPG in his time with the national team last year and took over Scola’s responsibilities in the paint after an injury sidelined the veteran big man for the tournament. He’s young and hasn’t developed reliable instincts on either end of the floor, but Deck’s improvement from just one year to the next bodes well heading into Tokyo.
Facundo Corvalan (PG) — Current Age: 19
At just 19 years of age, Corvalan has an incredibly polished game and would fit in immediately with the talents of the national team in Tokyo. Not only is Corvalan a willing and able passer with a gift for igniting the fast break, but he has the ability to take over games as a leading scorer.
His ability to orchestrate a high-tempo offence aligns well with Argentina’s fast-paced style of play, but Corvalan also proved throughout the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup that he was adept in running the pick and roll in the half-court setting. He’s a good (not great) three-point shooter with sound mechanics and a quick release, an ability to get to the rim with a tight handle, and a small selection of scoring moves (Euro-step and floater). Overall, despite his youth, Corvalan has the skill and maturity to contribute to a national team tomorrow, let alone two years from now.
Leonardo Mainoldi (PF) — Current Age: 33
Mainoldi normally plays as a big man, but like most Argentinian forwards, he has the ability to be lethal from deep. With strong shot mechanics and a fairly quick release, Mainoldi allows Argentina to play their patented pace-and-space offence with four players roaming the perimeter.
He played limited minutes for Argentina in Rio just a couple of years ago, but Mainoldi has always been the type of player to produce in limited time. His career with various clubs such as Quimsa, Gimnasia y Esgrima, and most recently, San Martin, has always revolved around offering quick production off the bench. He doesn’t rebound well for a big man and isn’t particularly versatile on the defence, but Argentina will simply hope Mainoldi brings the toughness, versatility, and veteran experience which has fueled his entire career.
David’s Potential Young Prospect:
Juan Marcos (PG) — Age: 18 and Francisco Caffaro (C ) – Age: 18
For my final predictions for the Argentinian national team at the 2020 Olympics, I was torn between a couple of Argentina’s most promising young prospects. After lighting it up in the FIBA U18 Americas Championship, both Francisco Caffaro and Juan Marcos proved they have what it takes to be the future of the Argentinian basketball program.
Caffaro would offer much needed interior defence and rebounding to Argentina alongside an aging Scola. Caffaro averaged 16.7 PPG and 8.8 RPG in his most-recent FIBA tournament. After being recruited to a collection of high-profile American universities, Caffaro committed to Virginia, an elite ACC program where he’ll face the best competition the country has to offer. Caffaro’s offensive game needs work and lots of it, but as an enormous and athletic big man, the 2020 Olympics would be an amazing opportunity to showcase his talent while learning from veterans along the way.
Marcos on the other hand was one of the most exciting and captivating players I’ve ever watched live throughout the FIBA U18 Americas Championship. He came off the bench for Argentina for most of the tournament due to an abundance of elite guards on the roster, but in limited time, Marcos still shined, averaging 14.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 4.0 APG.
Despite the relatively low assist numbers, Marcos’ passing ability was bar-none while the flashiness he added to each play kept the crowd in awe. There were a lot of NCAA scouts interested in Marcos by the end of the tournament and nearly all of them made the same comparison: he’s a young Ginobili. What better time for Marcos to experience his first Olympics than to do it while Ginobili experiences his last?
Two years from now Argentina will be heading into Tokyo looking to redeem a disappointing eighth-place finish from Rio back in 2016 and regardless of which talents they select for their roster, there’s no doubt the pool will be large. Narrowing down just 12 players from a country with such rich talent is difficult, but as we inch closer to the Olympics, these are my predictions for how the Argentinian roster will shake out.
Shotaro
It’s hard not to be intrigued by Argentina, ever since their 2004 Olympic gold medal win. They were often a team dismissed to many, especially with the overwhelming favourites in the United States.The reason being the majority of Argentinas basketball talent generally elects to play either domestically or in Europe, most notably Spain. A short list of Argentina born players have ever played in the NBA but recently more and more young talent are choosing the college route in America. This means most of Argentina’s talent goes unnoticed to North American audiences, besides Ginobli. However in the European leagues, many Argentinian players have come to dominate. Argentina has a long history of basketball, with the first teams being formed around various cities in 1912. They would then go onto play Uruguay in their first international match in 1921. Since they have remained active on the international level, appearing in many tournaments, including the Olympics.The Olympics will be a good stage to showcase the lesser known international talent, while giving hope to many basketball fans back home.
There are cross overs between our two lists, so I made an effort not to repeat any information David has laid out. I also included various scouting and highlight videos, to give you some reference of what I am talking about. Here is my predictions for the roster in upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Shotaro’s Starters:
Facundo Campazzo (PG) — Current Age: 27
Facundo Campazzo is currently the starting point guard for Argentina’s national men’s team. He is just 27 years of age and will still be in his prime come 2020. Gaining quick success early in his career domestically,he won some prestigious awards, including two Argentine League Finals MVPs in 2012 and 2014. He has been a consistent basketball figure in the country for many years.
Campazzo currently plays on the 2018 European League champions, Real Madrid and was also there for the clubs 2015 title as well. He is an incredibly gifted passer and a good ball handler. The main reason however he is currently the point guard for Europe's best team is because of his IQ of the game. He makes good basketball decisions and is thinking about the plays before they happen. You will see from his highlight video below, with his nickname “El Mago”, that he often makes good decisions under pressure, that leaves defenders confused and doesn’t rush plays. Not much of a scorer, only averaging 7.9 ppg this year, he offers you ball movement averaging 4.5 apg and decent on ball defence with 1.4 spg.
Due to all the hype surrounding the talented 18 year old Luka Dončić, who was drafted by the Mavs this year, the rest of the Real Madrid team was often overlooked. He will most likely be asked to be a leader of Argentina's 2020 Olympic Team, as he was for the European League’s champions.
Patricio Garino (SG) — Current Age: 25
A versatile player, who can either be a big off gaurd or moved to play the three. Garino has experience playing in America, against some top young talent. He went to George Washington for four full years of college, being a pillar of the program. Garino has the length at 6'7" to be a good on ball defender and plays passing lanes.
During his time at George Washington, he was a member of the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive team three times. This allows for him to get easy buckets in transition by staying aggressive on defense. He is a good finisher on the run but in susceptible to being fouled as he can struggle with converting free throws. Not a knockdown jump shooter when he originally went to George Washington, he was able to expand his game and become a relatively consistent spot up shooter. In his last year in college Garino shot 43% from distance. His weak points are ball control, foot quickness and is not the greatest passer. He is still young at just twenty five years of age and should be a solid starting choice come 2020.
Nicolás Brussino (SF) — Current Age: 25
A prototypical small forward body who is able to do some things you look for in a point forward. The reason I’m placing Nicolas Brussino at the 3 instead of Patricio Garino, is due to Brussino’s superior athleticism and less consistency from three. I know in an age which is often called “postionless” basketball, that this is trivial. He has a big body at 6'8" with a pretty quick first step that allows him to drive and attack the rim. His vision to find open teammates to kick out to or finding another cutter is quite good. The ball doesn’t stay stationary in his hands long, as he is quick to share the ball. His set shooting may be one weaker fascists of his game. Brussino is able to hit them enough for you to respect him from three but shouldn’t be relied on for consistent offence.
Brussino has had a brief stint in the NBA playing 58 eight games in the league, averaging 9.2 minutes per game. He was waived by Atlanta in the 2017–2018 season and would finish the year playing for CB Gran Canaria in Spain. Despite his short NBA career he is definitely a solid basketball player who can offer a lot of good qualities to Argentina come 2020.
Luis Scola (PF) — Current Age: 38
I know it seems like starting a man who will be 40 years of age is not a recipe for success, but ultimately I think he will retain his starting role. Scola had a long career in the NBA, playing for the Spurs, Rockets and the Raptors over a 10 year span. He started in over 500 games and was able to average 12 ppg, with a career high of 18.3 ppg in the 2010-2011 season.
His game holds up well for an aging player as he is able to utilize unorthodox post moves to get his opponent off the ground or out of position. He isn’t afraid to take jumpers either which gives his some flexibility to spread and not clog the lane for his teammates. Scola has been a long stay on the National team and it just seems fitting that him and Ginobli will give it one more run at 2020. The former Spur player will at the very least be able to give ample advice to young players, as Scola was part of Argentina’s 2004 Olympic gold medal team.
Marcos Delia (C) — Current Age: 26
Marcos Delia is currently the starting centre for Argentina’s men’s team. He has represented his country in international play since 2009, starting at just 17 years old. He stands 6’11” and has decent length. He is a post up player, back to the basket big. He is not the strongest of centres and has trouble utilizing his size. This means Delia often has to rely on fakes and footwork which at times means he has to settle for fads or jump shots. His pick and roll action are decent but he can often miss setting solid screens. His strengths are his quick passing and willingness to give up a good look for a better one. He stays active on the boards at both ends and works hard to grab his rebounds.
Like many big men he lacks quick foot speed to cover those on the perimeter making him a target for switches in the pick and roll. He does however offer decent rim protection on help defence. He’s not much of a scorer averaging under 7 points ppg in both club and international play, but his unselfishness makes him a good teammate. He is willing to do the dirty unsung work that a basketball team needs to do to win.
Shotaro’s Bench:
Manu Ginobli (SG) — Current Age: 40
I was hesitant to put Manu on the list. He is obviously the greatest Argentinian basketball player of all time and behind Dirk, possibly the best international player in NBA history. The reasons are obvious why I am skeptical. First is the man is already 40 and will be turning 43 during the 2020 Tokyo Games. It’s not so much if he can but if he wants to. Argentina has already retired his jersey number and he’s received many honors. I ultimately decided that I couldn't leave him off the list.
Despite his age, he is still be able to contribute some valuable minutes even in the NBA. Obviously his role for the Spurs will continue to diminish as his career winds down, but he has still been able to make impact plays at the right times. Remember his block on Harden at the end of regulation in the 2017 NBA Playoffs? His IQ, soft touch on floaters and ability to shoot means he can still be on the floor even at an older age. If he was still able to occasionally dunk at the NBA level this season, than at the Olympics which tends to be a step slower, he should be able to find his openings. Tokyo 2020 just seems like a good way to cap off his career and he will be able to give it one last go with fellow 2004 gold medalist Luis Scola.
Nicolás Laprovittola (PG) — Current Age: 28
Laprovittola is currently a free agent and has spent most of his pro career playing in South America. He has spent time both in the Argentina’s and Brazil’s pro leagues. Laprovittola made the decision in 2015 to head to Europe and has since jumped around on various teams. He had a brief stint with the San Antonio Spurs in 2016, but didn’t last long. He normally plays point gaurd but has the ability to play a bit of off gaurd. His jumpshot is decent and seemingly gets better each year.
This past 2017–2018 season with Zenit Saint Petersburg has been by far his best since he moved to Europe. Laprovittola would average 14.3 ppg on .44% shooting for the Russian team. His great year led to him signing with a new Spanish team Club Juventut Badalona. You will see in this video he is not so much a set shooter and relies heavily on driving to the net for floaters or layups. With his strengths in making quick decisions and moving the ball, he could be moved to the two guard to pair along with Campazzo for the national team.
Javier Saiz (PF) — Current Age: 23
As of right now, Javier Saiz is the backup powerforward for Argentina’s national team. He is young and slightly undersized (6'9"), to play the centre which he does at times for his club team. Instead I think Argentina should look to utilize him by stretching the floor. He has show weakness on the block but his jump shot has some consistency, which makes defenders have to respect his shots from three point range. His defence can be questionable at times but if Argentina is looking to play small ball and shoot threes, Javier can step into that role. He will have to continue to develop more, but ultimately I believe he will make the 2020 Tokyo roster.
Gabriel Deck (SF/PF) — Current Age: 23
One thing Gabriel Deck is able to do is score. He has great strength and attacks the basket hard. He has a decent enough mid range game to stop and pop. This makes it incredibly difficult for defenders to guess what he is going to do. Despite being a relentless scorer, he does struggle in moving the ball. He can often become an iso player, which isn’t what the Argentina team will be looking to do. His ability to finish in transition however is quite strong as he is able to finish with dunks through defenders. Two years ago he played very few minutes at Rio 2016, but injuries to starting players has seen him gain more playing time in recent years. Deck will be a strong contender for a roster spot for 2020, as his ability to come off the bench and get buckets is useful on any time.
Lucio Redivo (SG) — Current Age: 24
Lucio Redivo is a off guard who is primarily a scorer. He was FIBA’s Americas Top Scorer in 2017. So you may think why isn’t he in the starting rotation. The reason being is he is an undersized shooting guard that can be abused on the defensive side of the ball.
Standing at just 6'0", he struggles staying in front of bigger players. Due to his score first mentality he can often drive to the net with a lot of quickness but has little sense of what is happening around him. This can lead to poor passes that get intercepted or lead to very difficult shot selection. He has a good floater that he can occasionally use, as his finishing around the net is hindered by his height. His three point shooting is somewhat limited. He is able to take set corner threes and make them quite successfully but shots where he has to set feet in rhythm then go to his jump shot are not the most accurate. He will probably be relegated to a sixth man at best but his scorning off the bench could be an incredible asset come 2020.
Shotaro’s Potential Young Prospects:
Francisco Caffaro (C)
Caffaro is the current starting centre for Argentina’s U-18 team. He is listed at 7'0" tall which would make him the biggest player on the men’s roster. However it is less so his size that gives him a roster spot and more so his ability to post up and be a decent P&R partner. He is often looking to get his back to the basket as opposed to face up. Caffaro is a good option for driving guards to dump off to and get the easy points. Think 2017 OKC with a point guard that will drive, get a double team and have an easy pass to a dunk or layup.
His problem is he lacks touch on his close jump shots and floaters. He needs to look to utilize his size and finish effectively. Like many young big man, he is still growing into his body, meaning his feet are a little slow which can at times make him vulnerable. I think he is one of the most promising young prospects in Argentina’s program and he will ultimately be able to get one of the twelve spots for the next Olympic games.
Franscisco Farabello (PG)
At just eighteen years of age, it is hard to give a solid answer if he will be ready for the mens by the time of the 2020 Olympics. However he has show strong potential to make the men’s national team from a young age. He has been a leader at the younger ages which could mean he could prove to be a bridge player to the next generation.
A big problem is he plays the PG position that has plenty of established talent in front of him currently. That being said he’s shown promise with strong IQ, not seeming overly rushed to make a plays. He can push the ball up court for transition points to teammates and quicken the pace. His ability to come off off screens to get open shots has been quite good at the younger divisions. Once again, time will tell if he’ll be able to make the jump to Argentina’s men’s team but I have faith. With a already a loaded back court it will be difficult for sure, but he may be the next wave after Lapeovitta and Campozzola.
So there you have it, the lineups that could possibly be featured in the upcoming 2020 Olympics. Argentina has a long history of basketball excellence that they will be looking to uphold. This roster combining both the young and the old are great for insuring immediate success but also looking past the 2020 games. Can Argentina pull an upset like they did in the 2004 Olympics claiming gold? Most would say no but counting them out of the mix would be a big mistake. Either way it is one of the most exciting teams to watch outside of the United States and will undoubtedly put on a good performance regardless.
All photos/videos in this article are supplied by various websites and do not belong to me. If you would like to contact me, you can do so at: Shotarohmoore@hotmail.com
