Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero will play for Team USA at the upcoming FIBA World Cup rather than Italy, much to the apparent surprise of Italy.
Two days after the Orlando Magic star was reported to have committed to the Americans, Italian basketball federation president Gianni Petrucci unloaded on him for misrepresenting his intentions while deciding which country he would play for.
Banchero was born and raised in the United States, but his father is Italian and he owns an Italian passport, which gave him the ability to choose between Italy and Team USA.