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USA Basketball announced its official 12-man 2016 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team that will try to win the Americans' third straight gold medal. The USA team unveiled Monday is led by Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony, the only players with Olympic experience after a number of stars, including LeBron James, decided skip the Rio Olympics.
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Selected for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team were: Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder/Texas); 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); Paul George (Indiana Pacers/Fresno State); Draymond Green (Warriors/Michigan State); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers/Duke); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers/Texas A&M); Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors/Villanova); and Klay Thompson (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," Jerry Colangelo, who has served as managing director of the USA Men's National Team since 2005, said in a statement. "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."
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).
"I'm anxious to get on the court, and along with my great coaching staff, get to work," said USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski, serving as head coach of his third Olympic squad is now tied with Henry Iba for the most U.S. Olympic basketball head coaching assignments. "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."
With his selection to the 2016 Olympic Team, three-time Olympic medalist Anthony becomes the first United States male basketball player selected to four Olympic teams.
Durant, who collected MVP honors in leading the USA to gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and finished as the U.S. team's leading 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).
Included among the named 2016 U.S. Olympians were 2015-16 All-NBA first team selection Jordan; second team choices Cousins, Durant and Green; and third team picks George, Lowry and Thompson. Additionally, Jordan and Green collected 2015-16 NBA All-Defensive first team honors, while Butler and George were second team selections.
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 leading the Americans to gold, recently helped Cleveland capture the 2016 NBA championship.
The 2016 USA coaching staff is led by Duke Hall of Famer Krzyzewski, who since being named in 2005 as head coach of the USA National Team program has compiled a 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 Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams.
The USA National Team will train July 18-21 in Las Vegas. The Americans' Las Vegas training concludes July 22 with the USA Basketball Showcase that features the USA facing Argentina at the T-Mobile Arena.
The U.S. will play two exhibition games versus 2015 FIBA Asia zone champ China, the first at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 24 and the second on July 26 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Continuing its exhibition tour in Chicago, the USA will play on July 29 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 in Houston at the Toyota Center.
The U.S. men have collected a medal in all 17 Olympics in which they have competed, including 14 gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals. The American men own a 130-5 (.963 winning percentage) all-time record in Olympic action, and since NBA players began representing the United States in 1992, the USA is 45-3 in six Olympics, capturing five gold medals and one bronze medal.
Team USA currently enjoys a 17-game Olympic win streak that dates back to the bronze medal game of the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Durant was among the players to tweet Monday about being selected: "It's an honor to be a part of this. #UNITE #USABMNT."
