Background: Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball, said on Nov. 28 that he had approached five players about making a three-year commitment to Team USA, through the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, a member of the disappointing bronze-medal team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, may have been one of those five players; Anthony talked to Colangelo more than two weeks ago. “People were asking if players would be willing to commit,” Colangelo said. “(They will) once the story is explained to them about what needs to be done, recapturing our position as the leader in basketball. We taught the world the game, and they came back to beat us at our own game.”
What’s up: Anthony isn’t the only Nugget with USA Basketball experience. Guards Andre Miller, Earl Boykins, Greg Buckner and forward Kenyon Martin have previous experience, but Anthony is the only Nugget expected to be seriously considered for the roster. That doesn’t mean he’s a lock for a top-12 roster spot, however. While center Marcus Camby would seem to be an intriguing candidate for Team USA, he will be 34 by the time the Summer Games roll around.
What’s next: Colangelo is expected to talk to about 30 players before settling on 20 by February. Only 12 will be in uniform. Team USA begins play this summer at the 2006 world championships in Japan and will be coached by Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. Don’t be surprised if the likes of former Duke players Elton Brand of the Los Angeles Clippers and Shane Battier of the Memphis Grizzlies are on the team. Word is Team USA wants coachable players and no drama. Colangelo could begin naming roster members by year’s end.
“This is the first national team ever selected,” Colangelo said. “We’ve picked in the past a group of guys who have represented us in the world championships and in the Olympics. We are sending a national team to represent us. It’s a three-year commitment. There may be additions. There may be deletions over that period of time. From that group, we are going to select who is going to represent us.”
Marc Spears’ take: With Team USA desperate to return to dominance, expect a team tailor-made to win at the international game. NBA basketball and international basketball are completely different. To win at the international game, you need excellent outside shooters, multiskilled players and players with a high basketball IQ who value their roles.
