“Being chosen for the Select Team is an honor and it is an important step in becoming involved in USA Basketball’s National Team program in the future”, said USA Basketball National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo via press release.
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USA Basketball will officially announce its 12-man roster for Rio next week.
Carmelo Anthony, DeAndre Jordan, Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson and Toronto Raptors teammates Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have committed to representing the U.S.at these Summer Games.
“Let’s wait until it’s announced”, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said of Jordan’s add to the US team.
Several big names have said they will not take part, amid fears of the Zika virus and crime, including NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry of Golden State and star guards Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City and James Harden of Houston.
DeRozan played for the Americans when they won the gold medal at the Basketball World Cup in 2014, but Lowry’s inclusion on the roster was a surprise, since he wasn’t even in the Americans’ roster pool of 31 players.
With James taking a pass, Carmelo Anthony alone will have a chance to become the most-decorated Olympian in men’s basketball history.
The two-time All-Star point guard had his best season in his ten-year career, averaging 21.2 points and 6.4 assists per game, while leading the Toronto Raptors to its very first Eastern Conference Finals appearance. “To me, that’s the way I look at it and the way I approach the Olympics”.
Having spent three seasons at WSU, from 2008-2011, before being selected by Golden State in the first round of the draft in 2011, this will be Thompson’s Olympic debut.
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard will not participate with Team USA in the 2016 Olympics, opting to rest and rehabilitate his heel instead.
The 2016 USA Basketball Olympic basketball team may have found their starting point guard and a few excellent stars will be joining him.
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The Mike Krzyzewski-coached squad will train in Las Vegas in July, then play a series of exhibition games before beginning Olympic play in early August in Rio de Janeiro.
