The lengthy list of the 25 candidates for the 2008 USA Basketball Team for the Olympics has finally been announced. The USA Basketball team looks to redeem themselves after a poor bronze medal showing at the 2004 Olympics. The list includes 21 NBA stars (in alphabetical order): Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas, Shane Battier, Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Elton Brand, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion, Brad Miller, Lamar Odom, Chris Paul, Paul Pierce, Michael Redd, Luke Ridnour, Amare Stoudemire, and Dwyane Wade. J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison, both of whom are currently still in college, are also invited, rounding out the roster to 23 total players. One player's exclusion has garnered heated media attention, and his name isAllen Iverson. Many point to Iverson's age and style of play as reasons for his exclusion, despite his important role in the last Olympics. "We wanted a team not of individual stars, but athleticism, shooters, role players and distributors," national team managing director Jerry Colangelo said. Colangelo is also hoping that high school basketball star Greg Oden will be able to join the team for training this summer. The 23 players will attend a training camp in Las Vegas in July. The team will then fly to China and South Korea to participate in exhibition games. Afterwards, a 12-man roster will be selected for the world championships held in Japan. There will be another training camp in 2007, which could be regional Olympic qualifying. It will be followed by another camp and additional exhibition games in 2008, before the Beijing Olympics begin. The team will be led by Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. |
