USA Basketball Announces 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team

USA Basketball on Monday unveiled its official 12-man roster for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team, which includes six Olympic and/or FIBA World Cup gold medalists.

USA Basketball Announces 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team

The players selected for the 2016 U.S. Men’s Team, which is seeking a third straight Olympic title, were: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks/Syracuse); Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors/North Carolina); Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls/Marquette); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings/Kentucky); DeMar DeRozan(Toronto Raptors/USC); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder/Texas); Paul George (Indiana Pacers/Fresno State); Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors/Michigan State); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers/Duke);DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers/Texas A&M); Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors/Villanova); and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors/Washington State).

The team was approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors and is pending final approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

“I think I can speak for the entire coaching staff and say we’re extremely excited about the team we will field for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,” said Jerry Colangelo, who has served as managing director of the USA Men’s National Team since 2005. “I love our depth, which is another indication of the depth of talent our national team program is blessed with. We’ve got a great mix of talent, scorers, past gold medal winners and outstanding youth.”

Duke Blue Devils Men’s Basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has also served as head coach for the US Men’s National Basketball team for the previous two Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012, will return this year to coach the Men’s team. Since being named head mentor of the USA National Team program in 2005, Krzyzewski has compiled an incredible 75-1 record and led the USA to 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medals and 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cup titles. He will be assisted by Syracuse University Hall of Fame mentor Jim Boeheim, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams.

“I’m anxious to get on the court, and along with my great coaching staff, get to work,” said Krzyzewski. “Since 2006 and including the last two Olympics, our players have represented themselves, the game and our country in an exemplary manner. I know this team will continue that standard.

“Looking at this team, our overall balance is what strikes me. We have lightning-quick guards who can score as well as distribute the basketball. We have great shooters and explosive scorers, we’re big and athletic, and I think we’ll really be able to defend.”

Krzyzewski is now tied with coaching legend Henry Iba for the most U.S. Olympic basketball head coaching assignments.

The U.S. roster features the return of two members from the 2012 gold medalist U.S. Olympic Team (Anthony and Durant) and five players who have been members of USA World Cup gold medalist teams; Cousins (2014), DeRozan (2014), Durant (2010), Irving (2014) and Thompson (2014).

Three-time Olympic medalist Anthony is now the first US male basketball player selected to four Olympic teams.

Durant, who earned MVP honors in the leading Team USA to gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and finished as the US team’s top scorer at the 2012 London Olympics by averaging a U.S. Olympic record 19.5 points a game, was named to his second Olympic team.

The average age of the 12 U.S. players will be 26.8 years at the conclusion of the Olympics (Aug. 21, 2016).

Nine players — Anthony, Butler, Cousins, DeRozan, Durant, George, Green, Lowry and Thompson — were named as 2016 NBA All-Stars, while Irving, who was named MVP of the 2014 World Cup after helping lead the Americans to gold, recently helped the Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA Championship.

The U.S. will play two exhibition games versus 2015 FIBA Asia zone champ China, the first at the Staples Center in Los Angeles at 5 p.m. (PDT) on July 24 and the second at 7 p.m. (PDT) on July 26 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Continuing its exhibition tour in Chicago, the USA will play on July 29 at 8 p.m. (CDT) at the United Center versus 2015 FIBA Americas gold medalist Venezuela and will conclude the USA Basketball Showcase facing 2015 FIBA Africa zone champion Nigeria on Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. (CDT) in Houston at the Toyota Center.

The USA also currently holds a 17-game Olympic win streak that dates back to the bronze medal game of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

PHOTO: LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Kevin Durant #5 of the United States celebrates a shot during the Men’s Basketball gold medal game between the United States and Spain on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympics Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena