The NBA Finals are over, but fortunately we still have some basketball to look forward to this summer. The United States men’s basketball team is set for the Summer Olympics, and it’s looking like it will be an exciting squad to watch.
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo believes “we have a very, very strong team,” he said on Mike & Mike Monday. “When you have people like Durant and Klay Thompson and Kyrie, you know, offensively we’re in pretty good shape.”
Although several notable players have chosen to forgo their invitation to join the team in the 2016 Olympics, the roster boasts nine NBA All-Stars. Veterans Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony will lead the team with the support of some very talented young players in pursuit of the team’s third straight gold medal.
Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski will coach the American team for his third and final time. Alongside Krzyzewski will be Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau and former Oklahoma City assistant Monty Williams.
Irving was named MVP in the 2014 Basketball World Cup (Photo: Getty Images)
Four of the players on Team USA finished their season just a week ago in the NBA Finals. Although the roster is missing Finals MVP LeBron James and unanimous NBA MVP Stephen Curry, the NBA’s best teams are still heavily represented. Golden State stars Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes will look to rebound from a disappointing end to their season alongside Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving who clearly isn’t done winning.
Team USA will have five exhibition games before competing in the Olympics in August, ESPN reports. It appears the basketball drought for the summer will be short-lived.
Here’s the full 12-man roster that will represent the United States on the hardwood in Rio:
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
DeMar Derozan, Toronto Raptors
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors