Jodie Meeks named to 2022 USA Men’s Basketball AmeriCup Roster
Jodie Meeks hasn’t played in an NBA game since he was part of the Toronto Raptors 2019 championship-winning squad, but he’s still thriving on the hardwood.
On Saturday, it was announced by USA Basketball that Meeks has been named to the 2022 USA Men’s AmeriCup Roster. The 12-man roster will compete from Sept. 2-11 in Recife, Brazil. This will be the first time Meeks, who was a star at Kentucky from 2006-09, has participated in competitive basketball with the USA.
Earlier this month, Meeks was tabbed as an All-Star by the BIG3 along with fellow former Kentucky player Isaiah Briscoe. Meeks was an easy choice for a spot on the All-Star roster — he averaged 16.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for the Ball Hogs this season while shooting over 36 percent from distance (and 2-3 on 4-point shots).
Meeks is eyeing a potential NBA comeback, too. A return to the Los Angeles Lakers was on his radar at one point this year.
“Most definitely. I really enjoyed my two years with the Lakers, so reuniting would be something that I’d be more than happy to do,” Meeks told Sideline Sources in May. “Aside from being a great locker room presence, I can clearly add shooting, and I’m also a hard-nosed defender. I can come in and give that extra effort off the bench that everybody saw they needed last season. Every team can use a shooter that can make shots for their superstars.”
The former Kentucky standout was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks No. 11 overall in 2009 and later played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, and Toronto Raptors. 10 years, seven different teams. In that span, he’s averaged 9.3 points per game on 42.0 percent shooting and 37.3 percent shooting from three. His best season came with the Lakers in 2013-14 when he averaged 15.7 points on 46.3 percent shooting and 40.1 percent from deep.
Meeks, who turned 35 last week, is the second-oldest player on the USA AmeriCup roster behind 36-year-old Jeremy Pargo, who was a star at Gonzaga during his college days.
Team USA will face Mexico in the opening game on Sept. 2. A full schedule can be found through the link here.
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