COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) - USA Basketball have announced the country will rely heavily on players in the NBA Development League for its FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 qualifying campaign.

Under FIBA's Competition System 2017+, national sides (with the exception of hosts China) must qualify for the expanded 32-team World Cup. There will be 80 sides from FIBA’s four regions of Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe competing in qualifiers during six windows. The Americas will have 16 teams trying to qualify.

The first of the windows is this coming November.

USA Basketball are putting together a six-member committee that is to be responsible for the selection of players that will make up the 2017-20 USA men's World Cup qualification teams.

"With USA Basketball entering the new FIBA qualification system for the men's 2019 World Cup and 2020 Olympic competitions, we're excited to work with the NBA Development League to field competitive teams for the 2017-19 USA's World Cup qualifying games," said USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley.

"This will be an excellent opportunity for NBA D-League players to showcase their talent and experience meaningful and important international competition while representing the United States."

USA Basketball men's national team director Sean Ford is to serve as a non-voting chair of the selection committee.

Additional members include: Tony Bollier, NBA D-League player personnel and coach relations manager; Trajan Langdon, a former USA Basketball player and current NBA D-League Long Island Nets general manager and NBA Brooklyn Nets assistant general manager; Adam Simon, NBA D-League Sioux Falls Skyforce general manager and NBA Miami Heat assistant general manager; Gersson Rosas, Houston Rockets executive vice president of basketball operations and 2015-16 USA Basketball's men's national team international player personnel scout; and one athlete representative to be announced.

We're excited for representatives from our league to work hand in hand with USA Basketball to field a successful team filled with NBA D-League players to represent the USA in the World Cup Qualifying Games.NBA D-League president Malcolm Turner

The NBA Development League is to be known as the NBA Gatorade League beginning with the 2017-18 season. Having many of its players put on the USA jersey is a huge opportunity for the NBA D-League.

"The NBA D-League prides itself on providing athletes with opportunities to develop and compete at a high level," said NBA D-League president Malcolm Turner.

"We're excited for representatives from our league to work hand in hand with USA Basketball to field a successful team filled with NBA D-League players to represent the USA in the World Cup Qualifying Games."

The USA have won the last three FIBA Basketball World Cups, including in 2014 when they put on a dominating display in Spain and cruised to the top of the podium.

FIBA