NEW YORK, N.Y. (August 15, 2010) - With its New York training now behind them and four exhibition games with world powers ahead, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo today announced that 13 of the previous 15 finalists selected for the USA World Championship Team would continue on to the USA team's next training site of Madrid, Spain.
The 13 finalists for the USA World Championship Team are: Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).
The 2010-12 USA National Team coaching staff is led by Duke University's Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, and features as USA assistant coaches Syracuse University's Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan and Toronto Raptors head mentor Jay Triano.
"It's always difficult to have to pare down and make these decisions because each of these young men have given their time and energy to be part of USA Basketball," said Colangelo. "The decision made was predicated on having less players to work with and play during the upcoming exhibition games which will help in terms of our final preparations. So rather than bring 14 or 15 players we will for now go with 13 because we have yet to make a final determination on 12."
The 13 finalists for the 2010 USA World Championship Team are scheduled to travel Monday to Madrid, Spain, where they will practice Aug. 17-20. Following Sunday's exhibition contest at Madison Square Garden versus France, the USA will also play three world basketball powers in exhibition games, or "friendlies," in preparation for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. In advance of that tournament, the Americans will meet Lithuania on Aug. 21 and Spain on Aug. 22 in Madrid, and play Greece in Athens on Aug. 25.
All of these friendlies are part of the new Global Community Cup, which will include all USA Basketball exhibition games played outside of formal international competitions. Along with the games, the Global Community Cup features a social responsibility element that will highlight USA Basketball's commitment to giving back to communities in the U.S. and abroad.
The official 12-man USA roster that will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, which will be played Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey, must be submitted to FIBA at the technical meeting that normally is held the day prior to the start of the competition.
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