USA Basketball
USA Basketball: Olympic Team Finalists Announced
JANUARY 16, 2012 -- (From DigitalSportsDesk Staff and wire reports) -- USA Basketball announced 20 finalists for spots on the official senior national team roster that will represent the United States at the London Olympics next summer. As of last February, 2011, there were 34 players listed on the national team roster. Only a small handful will not be considered for a place on the official 12-man roster for the Olympics, but that list is not submitted until June 18th, according to USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo, the Managing Director of the senior national team program. Then, the roster is actually finalized two days before the Opening Ceremonies of the London Games at a technical meeting of the team managers. The games run from July 27-August 12, 2012.
"The finalists represent 14 different teams, and when we talk about the international experience, it's really key to being successful in international play," said Colangelo. "Eighteen finalists have a lot of experience led by Carmelo Anthony with 59 games; LeBron James, 55; Deron Williams 47; Dwyane Wade, 40; Dwight Howard 38; Chris Paul, 37; Chris Bosh, 32; Chauncey Billups, 30; Lamar Odom, 28; Tyson Chandler, 25; Kobe Bryant, 24; Rudy Gay, 23 and Kevin Durant 17 to begin.
"Griffin, let's talk about him for a moment," added Colangelo anticipating the questions from the national and international media on a special USA Basketball Conference call. "He's the youngest finalist at 22, has not played an international game, but very much was in the mix to play in the world championship, but he had that serious injury that kept him out. LaMarcus Aldridge was on the select team in 2008 and then circumstances did not allow him to participate in the 2010 world championship."
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"We are excited about this group and the opportunities that are in front of us. The timing for announcing the 12-man roster is not until June, I believe it's June 18, at which time we have to select 12.
Our training camp is scheduled to begin right after the 4th of July, right on the 5th, maybe the first practice on the 6th, so that will start everything going for us.
The list of finalists blends the older veterans who played in 2004 and 2008 along with 10 players from the 2010 world championship team that won gold in Istanbul, seemingly a perfect blend of old and new, especially since the elder statesmen are pretty young and only Billups and Odom are nearing NBA retirement age.
"One of the things we have really harped on is that we have a program; it's not a team. So it's important to have that blending of youth, and those who are coming up and those veterans who have been there and done it, and that just keeps it going in the right direction. Because when all of us are gone, we want this program to have the momentum, to have the pipeline really greased so that it just perpetuates itself," said Colangelo.
Players not among the finalists:
Carlos Boozer
Stephen Curry
Tyreke Evans
Danny Granger
Jeff Green (surgery)
Al Jefferson
David Lee
Brook Lopez (injured)
Robin Lopez
OJ Mayo
Kendrick Perkins
Tayshaun Prince
Rajon Rondo
Amare Stoudemire
Gerald Wallace
Here is the DigitalSportsDesk.com prediction for the 12-man roster for London:
Point Guards
Derrick Rose
Deron Williams
Chris Paul
Bigs
Dwight Howard
Kevin Love
LaMarcus Aldridge
Forwards
Carmelo Anthony
Kevin Durant
Swingmen
Kobe Bryant
Lebron James
Dwyane Wade
Battling for last spot...Depending on the health, contract status (free agents include Howard, Billups, among others), the last spot or two will come from the group below, depending on the needs of the team by positon.
Tyson Chandler (C/ C/F)
Chris Bosh (PF)
Blake Griffin (F)
Rudy Gay (G/F)
Russell Westbrook (PG)
Andre Iguodala (F/G)
Chauncey Billups (PG)
Lamar Odom (PF/C)
Lone Missing element - Outside shooting
To address missing element? - Monitor 3-pt shooting progress of Andre Iguodala.
Get Well Soon: Jeff Green is recovering from successful heart surgery and is targeting October, 2012 for NBA comeback.
NT program members that don't have much chance at representing the USA in future international competition: Amare Stoudemire, Rajon Rondo, Tayshaun Prince, Brook and Robin Lopez, Kendrick Perkins and Danny Granger.
