The Nets are going to be all over the FIBA World Cup.
Brooklyn could potentially have five players slated to suit up in the event, which runs Aug. 25-Sept. 10 in Asia.
And the so-called “Twins” will be playing for Team USA, with Cam Johnson committing to play alongside longtime friend Mikal Bridges, according to ESPN.
Johnson and Bridges — nicknamed the “Twins” because of their close relationship back in Phoenix — arrived in the February Kevin Durant trade that reshaped Brooklyn’s roster.
Bridges — who is the first player in 31 years to lead the NBA in minutes for consecutive seasons — will carry a heavy burden in joining Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton and Brandon Ingram as the top scorers on a roster that will see stiff competition from the likes of France, Spain, Australia and Serbia.
Johnson is a restricted free agent expected to draw significant interest — Houston is reportedly interested — but Brooklyn is likely to match any reasonable offer sheet.
The Aussies could also have a pair of Nets on the roster.
Patty Mills is already locked in to play for the Boomers as usual, but the Melbourne Herald-Sun reported that they’ll wait right up until days before the beginning of the start of the World Cup to see if Ben Simmons can get fit to play.
Simmons was shut down this past season with a bad back, but is has returned to the court, working out with an eye toward being fit in time to play the FIBA World Cup.
If the All-Star actually can, it would be an auspicious sign for Brooklyn moving forward.
Sweet-shooting forward Yuta Watanabe is also on the Japanese team.
An unrestricted free agent, he’s expected to play if he’s signed by then.
It would be a homecoming for him, with Japan a co-host along with Indonesia and the Philippines. (Brooklyn stash pick Nikola Milutinov is slated to be newly crowned NBA champion Nikola Jokic’s backup at center for Serbia.)
Team USA still has a couple more open spots and a dearth of big men, with some Nets fans hoping to see Brooklyn starting center Nic Claxton added.
He played for the Virgin Islands, making his debut in June 2018 against the Bahamas.
Training camp starts Aug. 1 in Colorado, and the first tuneup is six days later in Las Vegas against Puerto Rico.
The championship won’t be until Sept. 10 in Manila, with the Nets starting training camp roughly three weeks later.