U.S. basketball team gets roster extension

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DALLAS, May 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. Olympic Committee gave men's basketball officials an extension to determine its 2012 roster due to injuries to several candidate players.

Of the 22 finalists for the U.S. men's basketball team for the Summer Games, several, including LaMarcus Aldridge, Chauncey Billups, Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose, are injured and several others are involved in the NBA playoffs.

The team will have until July 7 to announce its final 12-player roster. The Olympics begin July 27 in London.

"We felt that it would be in the best interest of our selection process to give ourselves more time to finalize the USA roster," said Jerry Colangelo, head of the U.S. basketball men's national team.

"In addition to the unfortunate injuries suffered by four of our players, we anticipate that other finalists will advance deep into the playoffs and we also anticipate having to consider some free agency developments. Doing it this way will give us the opportunity to look at the status of every player who is involved in our program."

The U.S. team finalists are to meet in Las Vegas on July 5 for training camp. After two practices, the final roster is to be determined.

Also Monday, U.S. team men's Coach Mike Krzyzewski indicated the 2012 Olympics may be his last in leading the team. The Duke coach led the United States to the gold medal in 2008 in Beijing.