USA Basketball will use its former Olympic coaches and players to aid its future.
Eight Olympic basketball coaches and 12 Olympians dating to 1956 have agreed to provide guidance for the senior men’s national team.
Coaches include Pete Newell, Dean Smith, Bob Knight, John Thompson, Chuck Daly, Lenny Wilkens, Rudy Tomjanovich and Larry Brown. Players include former Olympians David Robinson, Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, Chris Mullin, Larry Bird, Bill Bradley, Doug Collins, Clyde Drexler, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Danny Manning, Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell.
“I’m so grateful that these Olympians, both players and coaches, have chosen to assist, serve and engage in this process,” managing director Jerry Colangelo said Thursday. “Their input will be invaluable when we meet to discuss the future plans for the U.S. men’s senior national team.”
Meetings are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in Chicago. If the Detroit Pistons are still alive in the playoffs, Brown will not be able to attend.
“I don’t know what the roles are,” said Brown, coach of 2004 Athens bronze medal-winning team. “I just told (Colangelo) I would help in any way I could. I’ve got a lot of things to make up for after (last) summer, so I’d like to help.”
