Team USA trimmed its roster to 13 players Sunday, cutting Jeff Green of the Oklahoma City Thunder (pictured) and JaVale McGee of the Washington Wizards.
The 13 finalists for the USA World Championship team are: Chauncey Billups, Tyson Chandler, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Danny Granger, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook.
With the departure of the 7-foot McGee, the 7-1 Chandler remains the only 7-footer on the roster.
“It’s always difficult to have to pare down and make these decisions because each of these young men have given their time and energy to be part of USA Basketball,” USA basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said. “The decision made was predicated on having less players to work with and play during the upcoming exhibition games which will help in terms of our final preparations. So rather than bring 14 or 15 players we will for now go with 13 because we have yet to make a final determination on 12.”
The 13 finalists will leave Monday for Madrid, Spain, where they will practice Aug. 17-20. Following Sunday’s exhibition against France at MSG, the USA will play three friendlies: Lithuania (Aug. 21) and Spain (Aug. 22) in Madrid, and Greece (Aug. 25) in Athens.
The official 12-man roster must be submitted Aug. 26. The FIBA World Championship begins Aug. 28.
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