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Memphis Grizzlies

OrthoSouth becomes the Official Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Provider of the Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies and OrthoSouth are pleased to announce a 10-year strategic partnership, making OrthoSouth the Official Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Provider of the Memphis Grizzlies. OrthoSouth’s practice is based upon a service-focused, concierge approach to orthopedic care.&nbsp;

“The Grizzlies organization and OrthoSouth share a common operating philosophy centered around operational excellence delivered in a highly personalized manner,” stated Jason Wexler, Memphis Grizzlies President of Business Operations. “We welcome OrthoSouth into the family as a multi-faceted strategic partner committed to support the health and performance of the Memphis Grizzlies over the long term.”

“The Memphis Grizzlies define excellence and professionalism throughout every level of their organization,” stated Kimble Jenkins, OrthoSouth CEO. “We aspire to similar standards of operational excellence. At OrthoSouth we strive to deliver exceptional care combined with exceptional service, to every patient, in every interaction. We look forward to bringing this focus and attention-to-detail to our partnership. Working together, we intend to set a standard of excellence that will benefit not just the Grizzlies players, but all the wonderful patients we treat every day.”

Fellowship-trained sports medicine physician Dr. Thomas V. Giel, III heads an extended OrthoSouth physician lineup that will provide sports medicine services to Grizzlies and Hustle players and take what they learn back into their clinics to better serve their community of patients. Recognizing the importance of fan health and wellness, the Grizzlies and OrthoSouth embrace the opportunity to engage with the fan base through multiple wellness touchpoints throughout the year. &nbsp;

To showcase the partnership, OrthoSouth will have prominent brand alignment across the entire Grizzlies ecosystem, including starting lineups, behind-the-scenes content, in-arena entitlement zones, fan-focused health & wellness platforms, and more. In addition, OrthoSouth will become the presenting partner for the Gary Parrish Show, a daily sports and entertainment show hosted by Grind City Media’s Gary Parrish.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At OrthoSouth, our goal is to be the best orthopedic practice in the United States, measured by the patient experience. Access, convenience, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere are hallmarks of OrthoSouth’s services, which include general, sports medicine, and subspecialty orthopedics; 8 community-based clinics, 9 physical therapy centers, and 2 outpatient surgery centers; evening hours, early appointment availability, walk-in availability, urgent orthopedic care, Saturday clinic hours, and more. Visit https://orthosouth.org to learn more or to book your appointment online today. 

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Memphis Grizzlies announce 10-year partnership with OrthoSouth

As part of the annual Grizz Goes Back to School campaign, the Memphis Grizzlies will continue to host multiple events throughout the Memphis area during the month of September. The initiative is designed to encourage all students and teachers to start the school year off right by reiterating the importance of mental health, physical health and education.

The Grizzlies tipped off this year’s campaign with their Mind Health Huddle panel for incoming high school freshmen on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at the Georgette and Cato Johnson YMCA in Whitehaven. The Mind Health Huddle aimed to discuss transitions in life and physical, emotional and cognitive changes that students face in their adjustment to ninth grade. Students participated in a panel discussion led by their peers in the MENTOR Memphis Grizzlies’ Youth Advisory Council, as well as activities geared to help them reduce stress and anxiety.

The campaign continued as the Grizzlies hosted a GrizzFit youth fitness session on Thursday, Sept. 14, at A. Maceo Walker Middle School. GrizzFit is a “no-experience necessary” fitness program, designed to introduce students to different forms of physical exercise while educating and challenging them to make healthier choices in their everyday lives. Students participated in three 10-minute workouts that included body weights, yoga, meditation and other exercises that require limited to no equipment.

In partnership with Delta Dental of Tennessee, the Grizzlies hosted an educational field tripto Georgian Hills Elementary on Friday, Sept. 15. Students in attendance participated in the rePRESENT Every Day Program, an&nbsp;incentive-based truancy reduction program designed to help keep youth in school and engaged in the classroom. Focused on reducing chronic absenteeism within schools in Shelby County, the program aims to increase attendance at each of the partnering schools by 5-12% by rewarding students throughout the school year. During the field trip, students received free dental cleanings courtesy of UTHSC, learned proper oral hygiene instructions and healthy eating tips and were given the opportunity to interact with Grizzlies entertainment teams. Students walked away with school supplies and resources on where to receive affordable dental care.&nbsp;

The Grizzlies will host a Read to Achieve classroom visit, presented by Sylvamo in association with KPMG, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 9:30-11 a.m. at Treadwell Elementary. The Memphis Grizzlies Read to Achieve Program encourages students to read and develop a love for reading, touching the lives of nearly 25,000 Mid-South students every year. Volunteers will assist with classroom readings and award students with Grizzlies prizes for answering questions correctly. Grizz and Grizz Girls will also be in attendance to visit classrooms and drop off books, as well as other reading prizes. To further encourage consistent reading every day, all 800 students will also receive a free Grizzlies library card. Additionally, MATA volunteers will be on site, packing kits for over 50 teachers.&nbsp;

The Grizzlies will close out their Grizz Goes Back to School campaign by hosting their Science of Basketball teacher training on Friday, Sept. 29. For the second year, the Grizzlies have partnered with Science of Sport to create the Memphis Grizzlies Science of Basketball program, which incorporates basketball into a STEM-based curriculum for students. The training will allow 20 teachers from 20 schools to participate in a professional development workshop and receive a STEM kit of resources for their classrooms. Teachers in attendance will also receive two complimentary tickets to an upcoming Grizzlies game. This event is closed to the public.

Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2022-23 season tickets and single game tickets can do so now by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going online to grizzlies.com/tickets. For more information on the Grizzlies, visit grizzlies.com, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow @memgrizz on Twitter/X and Instagram.

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Memphis Grizzlies announce annual ‘Grizz Goes Back to School’ campaign with multiple events in Memphis throughout September

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the television and radio broadcast schedules for the 2023-24 season. Bally Sports Southeast, the official broadcast partner of the Grizzlies, will televise 78 of 82 Grizzlies games for the 2023-24 NBA regular season, with all regional broadcasts presented by FanDuel. The Grizzlies’ radio flagship station, 92.9 FM ESPN Radio, will broadcast all five preseason games and 82 regular season contests during the 2023-24 season.

Bally Sports Southeast will tip-off its regular season coverage on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. (all times CT) when the Grizzlies host the New Orleans Pelicans in the season opener at FedExForum. Coverage of the regular season opener will begin at 6 p.m. with a special one-hour pregame Grizzlies LIVE, presented by Ford and your Mid-South Ford Dealers. Bally Sports Southeast’s coverage also will include the 22nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Game, presented by Ford and your Mid-South Dealers between the Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, at FedExForum.

Pete Pranica and Brevin Knight return for their 20th and 14th seasons as play-by-play and analyst, respectively, for the Grizzlies, while Rob Fischer enters his 17th season as the team’s sideline reporter. All Bally Sports Southeast regular season broadcasts will feature the pregame and postgame show, Grizzlies LIVE, presented by Ford and your Mid-South Ford Dealers. Fischer will host Grizzlies LIVE for all home game telecasts alongside Knight and Grind City Media’s Chris Vernon, entering his 11th season. Grind City Media’s Michael Wallace, entering his eighth season, will join the crew for various broadcasts.&nbsp;

All Grizzlies regular season games televised on Bally Sports Southeast, presented by FanDuel, will be available across Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi through cable, satellite and over-the-top providers, including AT&T U-Verse, DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, FuboTV, Spectrum and Xfinity. Game telecasts can also be streamed live on Bally Sports+, the Bally Sports app and BallySports.com. Local and regional channel listings can be found here.&nbsp;

The Grizzlies will be featured on four exclusive nationally televised games on TNT this season: Tuesday, Dec. 19, at New Orleans; Thursday, Jan. 18, at Minnesota; Thursday, Feb. 1, vs. Cleveland; and Thursday, Feb. 15, vs. Milwaukee.&nbsp;

Bally Sports Southeast and the Bally Sports App will carry all five preseason games starting with the home matchups against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m., and the Tuesday, Oct. 10, contest against the Milwaukee Bucks at 7 p.m. along with the Thursday, Oct. 12, preseason game when the Grizzlies visit the Atlanta Hawks at 6:30 p.m. featuring the Grizzlies broadcast team. The network’s preseason schedule will also include the Sunday, Oct. 15 matchup against the Miami Heat at 5 p.m. and Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., with both telecasts on Bally Sports Southeast via the Heat and Bucks broadcasts.&nbsp;

92.9 FM ESPN Radio, the Grizzlies’ radio flagship station, will broadcast all contests during the 2023-24 season, featuring play-by-play from Eric Hasseltine and analysts Elliot Perry and Michael Wallace. Hasseltine returns for his 23rd season with the team while Perry enters his 16th season. Coverage begins with the pregame show 30 minutes prior to tip-off, hosted by Jessica Benson and analyst Jon Roser. Gary Darby returns as the pregame and postgame host for away game broadcasts. Fans can tune into the radio broadcasts, including pregame and postgame, presented by Caesars Sportsbook, at 92.9 FM/680 AM or by downloading the official Grizzlies Mobile App. Grizzlies games will broadcast on 17 different regional radio stations for the second consecutive season. A full list of Grizzlies radio affiliates can be found here.&nbsp;

Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2023-24 Season Tickets and Single Game Tickets can do so now by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going online to grizzlies.com/tickets. For more information on the Grizzlies, visit grizzlies.com, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow @memgrizz on Twitter/X and Instagram.

ABOUT BALLY SPORTS SOUTH&nbsp; AND BALLY SPORTS SOUTHEAST

Bally Sports South and Bally Sports Southeast – Diamond Sports Group-owned regional sports network – are the local destination for sports fans across the Southeast, producing 750+ live events while televising 2600+ live events and studio shows annually. Home to the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Dream, Atlanta Hawks, Carolina Hurricanes, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Nashville Predators, and North Carolina Courage, the networks are widely distributed across Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

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Memphis Grizzlies announce 2023-24 regional broadcast schedule

Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies today announced their Day of Service volunteer event on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at FedExForum from 12-3 p.m., where fans can assist in multiple activities to support local schools.

The Grizzlies organization invites the Memphis community to volunteer alongside Grizzlies employees for the first time in support of three schools in the Raleigh and Frayser communities. Volunteers will help assemble school supply kits, non-perishable food boxes and bicycles while building fellowship with community stakeholders.

Fans who participate will each receive a special Day of Service shirt and a food voucher to the post-event food truck celebration on the Big River Steel Plaza at FedExForum. Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Registration will close on Friday, Sept. 15. Volunteers can sign up today at grizzlies.com/volunteer.

Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2023-24 season tickets and single game tickets can do so now by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going online to grizzlies.com/tickets. For more information on the Grizzlies, visit grizzlies.com, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow @memgrizz on Twitter/X and Instagram.

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Memphis Grizzlies host ‘Day of Service’ Wednesday, September 20, at FedExForum

Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team signed forward GG Jackson II to a two-way contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jackson II (6-9, 215), the No. 45 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, was named to the 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team after appearing in 32 games (29 starts) and averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in 31.9 minutes for the University of South Carolina.&nbsp;

The 18-year-old South Carolina native averaged 10.6 points, including 1.9 3-pointers made per game, 4.8 rebounds in 20.9 minutes in eight games (two starts) during the 2023 Salt Lake City Summer League and NBA2K24 Summer League 2023 in Las Vegas.

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Memphis Grizzlies sign GG Jackson II to Two-Way Contract

Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team signed guard Shaquille Harrison. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Harrison (6-4, 195), who signed a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies during the 2021-22 season, has competed in 180 regular season games (23 starts) over six NBA seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers and has averaged 5.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 15.4 minutes. Last season, he averaged 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 24.0 minutes in five regular season games for the Trail Blazers before appearing in eight playoff games for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 29-year-old Kansas City, Mo., native also started all 50 of his NBA G League appearances with the South Bay Lakers during the 2022-23 regular season and G League Showcase and averaged 12.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.1 blocks in 33.1 minutes. He was named the 2021-22 NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year as a member of the Delaware Blue Coats.

Harrison went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Tulsa.

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Memphis Grizzlies sign Shaquille Harrison

For Santi Aldama, those valuable lessons are almost as good as gold now.

The growing pains and breakthroughs from playing behind, alongside and – at times – in place of Jaren Jackson Jr. in the Grizzlies’ lineup the past two years are providing a boost.

“I’ve learned from Jaren a while now,” Aldama insists from overseas. “What I think I’ve learned most that’s helping me is basically how to use my body (defensively) to change shots and (offensively) to get position. That’s a strength Jaren has. I try to use that in my game.”

If production with their respective national teams is any indication, the 6-foot-11 Spanish pupil has caught on quickly with lessons from his 6-foot-11 American mentor and NBA teammate.

Much like Jackson has with Team USA, Aldama and Spain swept their three games in initial group stage play of the FIBA Basketball World Cup to advance to this weekend’s second round.

Also like Jackson, Aldama has been essentially irreplaceable on his frontcourt as Spain has powered on to the round of 16 remaining teams vying for berths to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

And statistically, the Grizzlies’ two versatile big men are having a similar impact – albeit with their own unique styles of play. Through three games in FIBA action, Jackson is averaging 11 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and a steal in nearly 17 minutes a game as USA’s starting center.

Aldama, meanwhile, has been a sensational sixth man for Spain in contributing 11.3 points, six rebounds, 1.7 blocks and a steal per game. He leads Spain in blocked shots and plus-minus ratio (+18.3), is tied for first in rebounds, is second in minutes played and is third in scoring.

While Jackson and Team USA have been stationed in the Philippines for their games, Aldama and Spain have been anchored in Indonesia for these initial rounds. Yet, there’s a mutual admiration of each other’s breakout play on the global stage as their respective team’s advance.

“It’s been great,” Jackson said of tracking Aldama’s progress from afar as they both push through the FIBA field. “He’s one of the best young players coming up right now, and he has all the tools to be amazing. With him putting it all together now, I know he’s been playing like a superhero with his country over there. It’s great, and I’m happy with everything he does.”

They now move a step closer to a potential showdown for a FIBA gold medal, but both face major obstacles in their quests to emerge from the weekend and make the knockout stage. Spain advanced to Group L and plays Latvia on Friday before Sunday’s showdown with fellow unbeaten Canada, which is arguably the most impressive team so far in the World Cup field.

Team USA, which capped its 3-0 start with Wednesday’s 110-62 thrashing of Jordan, moves ahead to Group J matchups Friday against Montenegro and Sunday versus 3-0 Lithuania. The top eight teams that emerge from Sunday move on to next week’s quarterfinals, with the bracket culminating in the Sept. 10 FIBA Basketball World Cup gold medal game.

Spain entered the 32-team field last week as FIBA’s No. 1-ranked squad based largely on its gold medal finish in the 2019 World Cup. But the USA, Canada, Serbia and Germany have proved to be viable threats to win the tournament, with each of those teams led by several NBA players.

“We have to figure out a way to play at our pace, with our physicality, that’s the biggest thing,” Aldama told Grind City Media of defending Spain’s World Cup title. “There are a lot of good teams in the World Cup, and you can already see the amount of talent is huge. There are so many teams that can win it. If we focus on winning every day . . . winning every single practice day by getting better, that’s our biggest challenge. If we do that, we’re set up for success.”

Although the Hernangomez brothers and Rudy Fernandez all boast previous NBA experience, Aldama is the lone player on Spain’s active roster who played extensively in the league last season. That became the case when Spanish superstar and NBA veteran Ricky Rubio announced in FIBA training camp he was stepping away from the team to cope with mental health issues.

“We lose Ricky, who’s a great player who would have helped us a lot, and we have to adjust,” Aldama said. “But it’s obviously more important what he’s going through right now. And we stand with him. But we have the guys we have. And we have a great group.”

Rubio’s absence created a scoring void that gave Aldama a bigger opportunity to emerge. During his senior national team debut on Aug. 4, Aldama scored 16 points in 16 minutes in an exhibition win over Venezuela. He followed up with a team-high 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds in another tune-up victory, this time over NBA superstar Luka Doncic and Slovenia.

Then came the highly anticipated matchup with Jackson on Aug. 13, when Spain pushed Team USA for three-and-a-half quarters before faltering late in a 10-point loss to the Americans. Aldama matched Jackson’s scoring output, with both big men finishing with 14 points.

It was a full-circle moment for Aldama. He opened his second NBA season a year ago as the Grizzlies starting power forward for the first two months as Jackson completed offseason surgery rehab. Aldama finished that season having played in 77 games, including 20 starts, while averaging career-highs of nine points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.8 minutes.

Now, after an offseason dedicated to building strength, improving his defense and expanding his offensive game, Aldama is testing his growth against the player who helped build his skillset.

“It was also the ability to make mistakes and learn on the fly,” Aldama said of how last season prepared him for FIBA play. “That’s carrying through with Team Spain, having to play in a different system, with different rules and a different team. Having that experience where I was able to adapt, having to play more minutes at some points last season and less in others, that just set me up properly so I can contribute to my national team the way I’ve been expecting.”

Jackson is just as proud of the gains he’s seen in Aldama’s game. The conversations and pointers he offered along the way last season are paying dividends now. And Aldama believes there’s no better teacher than a stalwart like Jackson, the NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

“He did a great job filling in for me – he held it down then, and you can see it just in his presence now,” Jackson said of Aldama. “His defense is coming along, and his offense has really always been there. He’s versatile. He works, so he’s going to be great in this league for a while.”

Only one of the two can potentially return to Memphis with a FIBA gold medal.

Jackson smirks when asked if it might be awkward to face his Grizzlies’ teammate with a FIBA World Cup championship on the line, should both teams continue to advance.

“It’s not going to be weird at all,” Jackson vowed. “I want that. I’ll be ready to go.”

There’s no backing down from Aldama or Spain as they continue to rise to the challenge. Spain has won 11 straight World Cup games, dating to their 2019 FIBA championship run. That streak matches the longest in that national team’s history.&nbsp;

But this is a different team, and a different time. Yet, it’s the same Spanish national pride.

“I’ve been training the whole summer for this moment,” Aldama assured.

Regardless of the World Cup outcome, Jackson believes the Grizzlies will ultimately come out winners. They’ll have two frontcourt players returning in midseason condition when training camp opens a little more than a month.&nbsp;

“That frontline is going to be super important, so I hope he takes this all seriously,” Jackson said. “I already know that’s him at his core. Santi works hard, does everything right and he’s coached well. So, it’s going to be great putting it all back together back in Memphis.”

These FIBA games are highlighting Aldama’s growth and Jackson’s emerging greatness.&nbsp;

Two examples of the Grizzlies’ gold standard for development on the global stage.

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies’ gold standard for development shines as Jackson (USA), Aldama (Spain) advance in FIBA World Cup

The chemistry and camaraderie have formed remarkably fast.

But don’t believe for a second that players on Team USA’s roster aren’t giving one another fits every chance they get along their global trek to the FIBA World Cup.

Just take Jaren Jackson Jr. for example.&nbsp;

“I’m talking trash to everyone, every day,” the Grizzlies’ star big man insisted.

But there are moments when Jackson, the NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year and Team USA’s starting center, grows even more defensive than anything he shows on the court.

Just ask USA teammate Austin Reaves, who finds just the right time to drop those not-so-subtle reminders how his Lakers beat Jackson’s Grizzlies in the opening round of last season’s playoffs.

“Oh yeah, I’ve definitely talked to him about that a couple of times already,” Reaves wisecracked. “We’re all sitting at a team dinner the other night, and I was minding my business, smiling, and just enjoying the conversation. Then someone said something crazy. And I had to bring up (the playoffs), just to drop a little jab in there to back them off.”

Even when joining forces for a collective national cause, there’s an intensely competitive streak that burns through this 12-man roster of some of the NBA’s best young players. But Jackson, Reaves and their teammates are setting in-season league rivalries aside – for now – as Team USA begins its quest for a gold medal with this weekend’s start of FIBA World Cup play.

After quickly building bonds through training camp and a 5-0 run across three continents in exhibition games, Team USA opens play Saturday against New Zealand in the Philippines. The Americans then face fellow Group C opponents Greece on Monday and Jordan on Wednesday.

Spain enters the 32-team field as the No. 1 team in FIBA’s world rankings based on its gold medal finish in the 2019 World Cup and subsequent international play. But Team USA, which regrouped from a seventh-place finish in the 2019 World Cup to capture Olympic gold in 2021, is favored to emerge on top in the Sept. 10 FIBA World Cup finals.

If two close tune-ups against Spain and Germany are any indication, these next three weeks may be far from a cakewalk to the medal rounds for Team USA.

Two weeks ago, Spain played the Americans evenly through three-and-a-half quarters before faltering late. And in its final exhibition last week, Team USA had to rally from a 16-point deficit in the second half to escape Germany’s upset bid.

Growing together and bonding quickly are vital for a group of USA players experiencing their first taste of FIBA World Cup competition. None on this roster have played in an Olympics, either. Team USA aims to finish this FIBA tournament with one of the automatic bids to next summer’s Olympics in Paris.

“We have a young team but they’re hungry and on the rise, a really good group enjoying this process of working hard together every day,” USA coach Steve Kerr said as the team arrived in Manila. “We need to get prepared because we know how difficult this will be. There are a lot of great teams. We’re excited to be here and can feel the passion from fans everywhere we go.”

Jackson has been among the most consistent performers along the way. The NBA’s leader in blocks per game last season, Jackson’s defense has been dominant in exhibition play.

His versatility and unique impact on both ends of the court have kept Jackson in Kerr’s starting lineup for all five exhibition games. Jackson is expected to maintain that role alongside guards Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards, and forwards Mikal Bridges and Brandon Ingram.

Jackson has scored in double figures in three of five tune-up games and has averaged nearly six rebounds and a team-high three blocks per game. His most impressive stretch came in the closing minutes of Sunday’s rally to beat Germany. Jackson provided the interior defense and rim protection during USA’s 18-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull ahead.

Jackson finished with eight rebounds, seven points and six blocks in 27 minutes for his most complete effort during the exhibition slate. Playing primarily at center required some adjustments, with FIBA’s rules limiting participants to five fouls and less physical play.

Having spent the bulk of his first five NBA seasons at power forward, Jackson has shared the frontcourt with centers such as Marc Gasol, Jonas Valanciunas and, currently, Steven Adams. With Team USA, he’s transitioned to being the man in the middle. It’s a role that could foreshadow what’s to come a bit farther into the prime of his NBA career in Memphis.

“Every day, it’s just about expanding more of my game to my new teammates here,” Jackson told Grind City Media of his Team USA adjustment. “It’s just doing what has to be done to win. Any part of your game, you’ve just got to use it where it fits. It really doesn’t matter what you’ve been doing on your respective teams. It’s what matters now and what needs to be done.”

Brunson echoes that sentiment and believes Jackson’s approach is symbolic of the team. The Americans haven’t been together long, but they’ve developed a tested formula for winning. They’ll rely on up-tempo offense, ball-movement, creating transition opportunities after forcing turnovers and aggressively defending the rim.

There’s also balanced scoring and depth, with Kerr’s rotation often stretching to 11 players.&nbsp;

“Guys just want to put each other in position to be successful,” said Brunson, the Knicks’ catalyst and Team USA’s starting point guard. “We have a lot of guys who come from different situations and play different styles and roles on their teams. But here, egos are left at the door.”

Well, except for those moments when trash-talking breaks out.

Sometimes it’s on the bus to the arena. Other times it erupts at dinner, or when hanging out in the hotel. It doesn’t take much to get started, either.

There’s that playful Jackson-Reaves dynamic, of course. On the flip side, Jackson is also in the starting lineup with Edwards of the Timberwolves, who were knocked out of the playoffs two season ago by the Grizzlies.

“It happens everywhere, man,” Edwards said of the banter among rivals-turned-teammates. “You really don’t ever set it aside because you still have an edge when you’re around these guys. You have to talk a little trash. But at this point, we’ve come together to learn each other more. As we learn each other off the court, we’re that much better on the court.”

Talk only goes so far for Ingram, the prolific scorer from the Pelicans. Asked how intense the ribbing sometimes gets between these NBA players, Ingram slowly scanned the gym.

“They’ve all been talking since we got here,” Ingram smirked. “Every team (represented) here, I probably (scored) 30 on everybody. I don’t trash talk. All my (stuff) is action. Right now, you put all that NBA stuff away and learn each other fast. Once it hits October, then it’s different.”

The same fire that will spark them over the next seven months once the NBA season starts has already ignited them for a united stand through these next three weeks for FIBA goals.

“A lot of these guys, I started out with, grew up with playing the game at every level since we were young,” Jackson said. “We’ll put (team rivalries) aside, for sure, for now. But we’re always going to have fun. We’re just ready to get this thing going.”

Team USA has already proved to be a team of fast learners.&nbsp;

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MikeCheck: Jackson, USA teammates set aside NBA rivalries – for now – in quest for FIBA gold

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