US finalizes team for Olympic Games
LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Agence France-Presse
Coach Mike Krzyzewski (L) and USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo (R) stand with the 12 players named to the US men’s Olympic basketball team in Las Vegas. AP photo
With LeBron James and Kobe Bryant already among the NBA stars on board for a bid for a second straight gold, USA Basketball finalized its 12-man squad for the London Olympics on Saturday.James, coming off his first NBA title with Miami, and Bryant are joined by 2008 gold medal-winning teammates Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Deron Williams on the squad again guided by Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski.
NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook, who lost to Miami in the NBA Finals, are also joined by 2010 world championship teammates Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love, two vital big men for the Americans.
With those nine in place, U.S. officials had the task of selecting the last three pieces of the puzzle - filling out the squad Saturday with Blake Griffin, Andre Iguodala and James Harden.
“We projected we would have difficulty getting down to a roster of 12, regardless of the number of injuries that have taken place, because they are such an outstanding group of people and athletes,” USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said.
“The final selections keep us in concert with our game plan to have athleticism, versatility and strong depth on our roster. I think our final roster epitomizes all of that.” Missing out were Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay and top draft selection Anthony Davis of New Orleans.
Injuries rule out stars
Krzyzewski echoed Colangelo’s comments on the difficulty of selecting the team, despite injuries that ruled out such NBA stars as center Dwight Howard, guards Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade, and forward Chris Bosh.
Griffin, slowed by a knee injury in the NBA playoffs, demonstrated his return to health with a dunking display after Saturday’s practice.
Harden, who earned the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award for top reserve, gives the United States a scoring threat off the bench while Iguodala brings a strong defensive presence. The Americans remain short-handed at center, where Howard started in 2008 with Bosh as his back-up.
With Chandler the only true center remaining, some less experienced players will be called on at the position.
