Such is the depth of U.S. basketball though, they will enter as the hot favourites to reclaim the gold medal.
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Anthony becomes the first USA player selected to four Olympic teams.
“Looking at this team, our overall balance is what strikes me”, said head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who will lead the U.S. in a third consecutive Olympic Games. “Since 2006 and including the last two Olympics, our players have represented themselves, the game and our country in an exemplary manner”.
The Warriors are the only National Basketball Association team with three representatives on the Olympic squad; every other team representing the United States is only sending one player.
“We have lightning-quick guards who can score as well as distribute the basketball”, Coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement. I think we have some terrific defenders as well as terrific shooters, and the versatility is over the top..
Irving will be the sixth former Duke men’s basketball player to represent the U.S.in the Olympic Games, joining Tate Armstrong (1976), Carlos Boozer (2004 and 2008), Grant Hill (1996), Christian Laettner (1992) and Jeff Mullins (1964). An MVP in basketball World Cup in 2014, Irving is a big hope for US team in the Olympics. Anthony is Team USA’s oldest player at age 32, but he doesn’t have the same problem: He plays for the New York Knicks.
Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Indiana’s Paul George and Chicago’s Jimmy Butler also made the team, as did Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers.
Colangelo said having a national team pool, which he began in 2005, always has the Americans ready for player losses. Ford played in all eight games and averaged 4.9 points per contest, as the Americans went 8-0 in Melbourne and posted a +53.5 points per game margin of victory en route to the gold medal.
Team USA will play a game at Oracle Arena on July 26 as a part of the USA Basketball Showcase. The U.S. will compete with Venezuela, China, Australia, and two teams still to be determined in their own group, while Luis Scola (Argentina) and Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania) will be playing in the opposite group with Spain, Brazil, Nigeria, and one team still to be determined.
Ten former Kentucky players have earned a gold medal, with Anthony Davis capturing the most recent in 2012.
The U.S. has won 63 consecutive games, including FIBA, Olympic and exhibition contests, and has won 17 consecutive Olympic games.
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Free agency talks can wait.
