LeBron James will wear the red, white and blue this summer after all.
Cleveland’s all-star forward ended uncertainty about his status with the U.S. national team Tuesday night by saying he will play in next month’s FIBA Americas Championship tournament in Las Vegas, where the Americans will try to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.
“I’m going to play,” James said. “I’ve had enough time off, and knowing my body more than anybody, I’m ready to play. I don’t know how much I’m going to play or how extensively, but I’ll be ready.”
For several months, James had said he was “50-50” about playing for Team USA this summer. He and his girlfriend recently had their second son, and with the Cavaliers making it to the NBA Finals, James might have wanted some extra time off after playing more than 100 games since last October.
However, the 22-year-old, who played on the U.S. Olympic team at the 2004 Athens Games and for the U.S. squad that won a bronze medal at last summer’s world championships, said he intends to honor his three-year commitment with USA Basketball.
“It was a long and tough year,” James said. “But for me, if I make a commitment, I want to keep it. I’m a loyal guy. I committed to three years and I’m going to hold up my end of the bargain.”
The U.S. team will have a three-day mini-camp from July 20-22 in Las Vegas. Three weeks later, the Americans will resume practice in preparation for the 10-team tournament that begins Aug. 22. Two teams from that tournament will qualify for the Beijing Games.
USA Basketball has commitments from Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Carlos Boozer, Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams, Mike Miller, Tayshaun Prince, Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, Michael Redd, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant.
Jazz: Coby Karl may have endeared himself to coach Jerry Sloan and gotten himself in the doghouse at home.
Karl, son of Nuggets coach George Karl, worked out for Sloan and noted how Utah’s fundamental style reminded him of his father’s teams in Seattle and Milwaukee.
“What Coach Sloan and my dad preach is play the right way and play hard and play tough. And play defense, but unfortunately my dad’s team doesn’t play defense, so you can’t really say that right now,” Karl said with a slight grin. “But if you look at his history, his teams have played defense.”
The Jazz was the last of 11 NBA teams to take a look at Karl, who averaged 14.8 points and four assists as a senior at Boise State. He declared early for the 2006 draft, despite having just completed chemotherapy, but pulled out in time to keep his college eligibility.
Lakers: Center Kwame Brown, who underwent reconstructive surgery on his left ankle last month, is scheduled for an operation on his right shoulder today.
Brown, who will have a bursa sac and scar tissue removed, is expected to make a full recovery. A timeline for his return will be determined after surgery.
Kings: Forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim underwent cleanup surgery to remove loose particles from his right knee. Abdur-Rahim, an 11-year NBA veteran, will require several weeks of recovery, but is expected to be ready for training camp in October.
