NBA Rumors: Marcus Smart Cleared To Play For Team USA After Calf Injury

It looks as if U.S. men’s national basketball team will be getting back some reinforcement before the 2019 FIBA World Cup begins.

Marcus Smart, who’s been sidelined with a calf injury, has been medically cleared “to make a full return to the court,” according to The New York Times’ Marc Stein.

Team USA coach Gregg Popovich provided an update on the Boston Celtics guard Wednesday, noting he “probably” would be day-to-day. There initially was no timetable for Smart’s return.

Smart was one of four Celtics named to Team USA’s 17-man roster, which will be cut to 12 by Aug. 29. The feisty guard certainly will provide a boost to the team after what he called an “embarrassing” scrimmage loss earlier this week.

The FIBA World Cup begins Aug. 31 in China.