Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan excited to be on Team USA

By Andrew Melnick | Aug 25, 2014

Aug 1, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; USA Team Blue guard DeMar DeRozan (45) dunks the ball during the USA Basketball Showcase at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Team USA officially released their roster for the FIBA World Cup, selecting DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans, Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons, Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets, Rudy Gay of the Sacramento Kings, James Harden of the Houston Rockets, Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mason Plumlee of the Brooklyn Nets, Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors and DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors.

More from FIBA World Cup

DeRozan may not have been expecting to make the team and is extremely happy to be a part of the squad.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this team,” DeRozan said in a statement. “This is what all my hard work is for and I’m glad that it has paid off.

“I look forward to continuing to put in the work and doing whatever I can to contribute to the team’s success and bringing back gold.”

Team USA will get their tournament started when they take on Finland on August 30.

DeRozan averaged 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 42.9% from the field, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 82.4% from the free throw line last season. He was originally drafted by the Raptors with the ninth-overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft. In his five-year NBA career, he’s put up 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 44.7% from the field, 26.7% from three and 81.5% from the charity stripe.

Be sure to check FanSided’s official NBA page to keep up to date on the latest news and rumors from around the league all summer long.

Home/FIBA World Cup