Featuring Olympic gold medalist Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks) and four 2004 Olympians, USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo today announced the 12-players who will represent the United States in the Aug. 8-24 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China. The player selections were approved by the USA Basketball Executive Committee, and will be nominated to the United States Olympic Committee to participate in the 2008 Olympic Games.
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Duke University Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski is head coach of the USA Senior Team program.Serving as assistant coaches are Syracuse University and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, New York Knicks head mentor Mike D’Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.
Of the 12 selected players, six were part of the 2006 USA Basketball Men’s World Championship Team, and eight were part of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship that qualified the U.S. for the 2008 Olympics.Three players – Anthony, Howard and James, were members of both teams. Players on the 2006 USA Basketball Men’s World Championship Team were: Anthony; Bosh; Howard; James; Paul; and Wade.Members of last summer’s FIBA Americas Championship squad were: Anthony; Bryant; Howard; James; Kidd; Prince; Redd; and Williams.
Kidd, at 35 years old, will be the veteran leader of the USA team.A member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team that finished 8-0 and captured the gold medal in Sydney, Australia, Kidd has played on eight USA Basketball teams and boasts of a perfect 44-0 record at senior level competitions.
Kidd, along with 2004 Olympians Anthony, Boozer, James and Wade, will look to add their names to an elite USA group of multiple-time Olympians which currently consists of 13 men (David Robinson-1988, 1992 and 1996; Charles Barkley-1992, 1996; Patrick Ewing-1984, 1992; Burdette Haldorson-1956, 1960; William Hougland-1952, 1956; Michael Jordan-1984, 1992; Robert Kurland-1948, 1952; Karl Malone-1996, 1992; Chris Mullin-1984, 1992; Gary Payton-1996, 2000; Scottie Pippen-1992, 1996; Mitch Richmond-1988, 1996; and John Stockton-1992, 1996.
The average age of the 12 players named to the 2008 U.S. team by the end of the ‘08 Olympics will be 26.08 years old.The USA team at the FIBA Americas Championship averaged 26.00, the USA team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship averaged 24.50 years of age, while the USA team at the 2004 Olympics averaged 23.60 years of age.
USABasketball Men’s Senior National Team Program
Following a disappointing 5-3 finish and bronze medal showing at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, USA Basketball in 2005 set off in a totally new direction with its men’s senior national team.Setting aside the old committee system used for selecting its senior teams, USA Basketball’s Executive Committee selected respected former Phoenix Suns chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo to serve in the then newly created position of Managing Director of the USA Men’s Senior National Team Program for 2005-2008.
Building a program that eventually consisted of 33 of this country’s premiere players, and the very best coaches and support staff, USA Basketball proceeded to create a true USA Senior National Team program.
Players named to the USA Basketball’s Men’s Senior National Team include: Anthony; Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Houston Rockets); Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons); Bosh; Boozer (Utah Jazz); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Bryant; Tyson Chandler (New Orleans Hornets); Nick Collison (Seattle SuperSonics); Kevin Durant (Seattle SuperSonics); Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls); Howard; Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Kidd; James; Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Shawn Marion (Miami Heat); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Mike Miller (Memphis Grizzlies); Adam Morrison (Charlotte Bobcats); Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Paul; Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics); Prince; Redd; J.J. Redick (Orlando Magic); Luke Ridnour (Seattle SuperSonics); Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); Wade; and Williams.
Through international competitions in 2006 (FIBA World Championship) and 2007 (FIBA Americas Championship), and an exhibition tour by the Senior National Team in 2006, the USA Senior National Team has logged a combined overall record of 23-1.
Members of the Senior National Team program were together 42 days in 2006 (including the FIBA World Championship), and in 2007 the team was together for 24 days (including the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship).
In 2007, the USA Senior National Team rumbled over its opposition at the FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas, Nev., and finished 10-0 to win gold and capture one of the FIBA Americas zone’s two qualifying berths for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In winning its 10 games in just 12 days, the USA averaged 116.7 ppg., the most by a USA Senior National Team since the 1994 USA World Championship Team scored 120.1 ppg.; and the USA defeated its 10 opponents by an average of 39.5 ppg., the largest margin by a senior squad since the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team defeated its opponents by 43.8 ppg. The USA team led the FIBA Americas Championship team statistical rankings in 13 of 17 categories.An astounding 61.7 percent of the team’s made field goals were assisted on.
Members of the gold medalist 2007 USA FIBA Americas Championship Team were: Anthony; Billups; Bryant; Chandler; Howard; James; Kidd; Mike Miller; Prince; Redd; Stoudemire; and Williams.
Statistically, there were plenty of impressive individual stat lines. Anthony led the team’s potent scoring attack averaging 21.2 ppg., James posted 18.1 ppg., Bryant added 15.3 ppg., Redd averaged 14.4 ppg., while Stoudemire and Howard posted 11.1 ppg. and 10.0 ppg., respectively.
The 2006 FIBA World Championship, expanded to 24 teams, proved to be the most competitive and exciting ever. Spainemerged as the World Champion after defeating Argentinain the semifinals (75-74), then Greece (70-47) in the gold medal game.The U.S., after falling to Greece101-95 in the other semifinal game, rebounded to claim the bronze medal by beating 2004 Olympic champ Argentina 96-81.
Finishing with an 8-1 overall record, as a team, the U.S. finished ranked among the top leading teams in almost every offensive statistical category at the 2006 World Championship. The USA finished ranked first in scoring offense (103.6), first in field goal percentage (.503), first in assists (18.78), first in free throws made (182), first in assist-turnover ratio (1.74), second in scoring margin (+20.4), third in rebounding margin (+5.6), fourth in offensive rebounding (13.11), fifth in 3-pointers made (82) and seventh in 3-point shooting (.369). On the defensive statistical side, the U.S. also ranked first in steals (10.78), second in turnover margin (+7.44) and second in blocked shots (4.89).
Anthony led the team in scoring averaging 19.9 ppg., while Wade added 19.3 ppg., andJames contributed 13.9 ppg.Paul led the U.S. in assists handing out 4.9 apg., James and Howard paced the USA effort on the glass snatching 4.8 rpg. and 4.7 rpg., respectively.
Opening training in 2006 on July 19 in Las Vegas, a team of 14 finalists went 5-0 in its pre-World Championship tour.
Selected for the 2006 USA Basketball Men’s World Championship Team were: Anthony; Battier; Bosh; Brand; Hinrich; Howard; James; Jamison; Johnson; Brad Miller; Paul; and Wade.
The Misfits Pair 
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