The New York Knicks will have their first look at Luca Vildoza against NBA competition since his signing when Argentina plays Team USA in Las Vegas in an exhibition match next month.
Vildoza will join Denver Nuggets’ rookie guard Facundo Campazzo in Argentina’s backcourt. The Knicks will have the chance to see him go up against a star-laden Team USA’s backcourt led by Portland’s superstar Damian Lillard. Joining Lillard in Team USA’s backcourt are Devin Booker (Phoenix), Bradley Beal (Washington), Zach LaVine (Chicago), and Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee).
Fourth-ranked Argentina is scheduled to play the world’s no.1 Team USA on July 13 at MGM’s Michelob Ultra Arena. Tickets to the game are selling for as low as $62 to as high as $120. You can buy your ticket here.
The exhibition match is part of Argentina’s three-week training camp before flying to Tokyo. The national teams of Nigeria, Australia, and Spain will also see action in the five-day event in Las Vegas.
Vildoza will leave New York on Sunday to join Argentina’s national team, according to his camp. The 25-yeard old Argentinian guard had been working out with the Knicks since his arrival last month. His camp also revealed that three more Knicks players joined him in his final week before leaving for Las Vegas.
Vildoza signed a four-year $13.6 million deal to join the Knicks this season with the next three years non-guaranteed. The Knicks will have the chance to evaluate him further in the Olympics, the Summer League, and the training camp before committing to a full guarantee next season.
Games against Australia (July 10) and Nigeria (July 12) will serve as Vildoza’s warmup before the much-awaited showdown against Team USA.
Australia also features a backcourt of NBA veteran Patty Mills (San Antonio) and Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland). Nigeria coached by Mike Brown is no slouch either, with several NBA players in their lineup that includes Campazzo’s teammate Monte Morris, OG Anonuby (Toronto), Josh Okogie (Minnesota), Precious Achiuwa (Miami), Al-Farouq Aminu (Chicago), Jahlil Okafor (Detroit), and Jordan Nwora (Milwaukee).
Argentina is bracketed with Spain, Japan, and the winner of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania, where Luca Doncic will attempt to lead Slovenia to their first-ever Olympics appearance.
Assuming Argentina will play for the gold medal, Vildoza will have a tight turnaround between the Olympics and the NBA Summer League.
The Olympics gold medal match will be played on Aug. 6, while the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas is penciled to start on Aug. 8.
Two more other Knicks players — RJ Barrett (Canada) and restricted free agent Frank Ntilikina (France) — will see action in the Olympics.
Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo
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