After four days of training and an intra-squad exhibition game that were held July 19-24 in Las Vegas, Nev., USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced that 15 players have been selected as finalists for the 2010 USA World Championship Team.
The roster includes Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Jeff Green (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).
The players who got cut were: Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings), last season’s Rookie of the Year; JaVale McGee (Washington Wizards); O.J. Mayo (Memphis Grizzlies); and Gerald Wallace (Charlotte Bobcats).
The 15 finalists will reassemble Aug. 9 in New York City and train here Aug. 10-16.
The official 12-man USA roster that will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship is not due until Aug. 26, two days before Team USA plays Croatia in Istanbul, Turkey.
“We had an outstanding week of training camp in Las Vegas and it is apparent we have a group of guys that are very focused, committed, and desirous of playing for USA Basketball,” Colangelo said. “The identity of the team is still evolving, but it is pretty obvious we’re going to be very athletic; we’re going to be very strong in the back court; we think our shooting ability is underestimated, we think we’ve got a number of people who can shoot the ball; and so we’re pleased with our progress to date.
“I like their attitude,” Team USA and Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski added. “They all want to be on the USA team. They want to learn and they’re willing to sacrifice for what’s best for the whole. There’s a great, great spirit of cooperation, an unbelievable spirit of cooperation.”
The selected USA finalists will reassemble in New York City to resume training and to take part in the first-ever World Basketball Festival, a four-day celebration of the game’s performance and culture hosted by NIKE, Inc. and USA Basketball.
The USA World Championship Team hopefuls will begin their training Aug. 10 with a 12 -3 p.m. (EDT) practice at John Jay College. The World Championship Festival tips off Aug. 12 in Radio City Music Hall with a special showcase featuring the USA Basketball World Championship team finalists and moves uptown to Harlem’s legendary Rucker Park basketball courts on Aug. 13 and 14.
The Festival concludes Sunday, Aug. 15, when the USA squad takes on France at Madison Square Garden, 1 p.m. (EDT), in the first game of an exhibition doubleheader. China will meet Puerto Rico at 3:30 p.m. (EDT) in the second contest. Tickets for the exhibition doubleheader, which start at $15, are available on the Web via www.Ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com, by phone at 1-800-4-NBA-TIX, and at the box office at Madison Square Garden.
In addition to the game against France at Madison Square Garden, the USA will play three world basketball powers in exhibition games, or “friendlies,” in preparation for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. In advance of that tournament, the Americans will meet Lithuania on Aug. 21 and Spain on Aug. 22 in Madrid, Spain, and play Greece in Athens on Aug. 25.
(Photo courtesy USA Basketball)
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