American basketball chief Jerry Colangelo optimistic for London 2012 despite current NBA lockout
With each passing day, the 2012 London Olympics are drawing closer. But, for the team that is favourite to win the gold medal at the event, USA, the lockout in its basketball league (NBA) has created a bit of a problem. The Chief of the American team, Jerry Colangelo, however is positive that he will soon have a squad ready to go.
Jerry’s optimism has stemmed from the fact that already players are calling him and informing him of their availability. While there has been speculation that the big names in the NBA such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh might not participate, other such as Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are ready to bring home the gold.
"I haven't even really started reaching out, and I'm fielding calls” said Jerry. "They're calling me and they're calling me to say they're playing”.
As it currently stands, no one knows how long the lockout will last. However, it might cause some serious legal problems if it is not resolved by the time the Olympics start in 2012. The major issue in this debate is with regards to the insurance of the players, which team USA has not granted as of yet.
Under the lockout, teams do not have legal rights over the players. Hence, they are not liable to pay them their salary; they cannot provide insurance for them incase they play for team USA; and they are not to cater to any other needs, wants or desires of the players.
However, Colangelo provided words of assurance, stating that the US national team is independent of the NBA. "I think it's important that people in the basketball world - fans, media - understand something very basic” Colangelo said. "USA Basketball is self-sustaining; it's its own entity; it is not an arm of the NBA."
On the contrary Jerry also stated that, as of yet, he does not have any specific plan to deal with the situation in case the lockout does not end by the time the roster has to be finalized and sent to FIBA. But he remained confident that he will be able to gel together a team consisting of players from both the 2008 Olympic winners and the 2010 FIBA World Championship winners.
Colangelo stated that they were in the process of creating a team and that team USA will participate, irrespective of who decides to play and who doesn’t. "We have the depth of players, looking at the Olympic roster and the World Championship roster, to field a team."
Kobe Bryant has reportedly expressed his wish to achieve another Olympic gold medal. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, is evidently relishing the prospect of his first ever gold medal at the Olympic Games.
The USA development scheme is repeatedly extolled for its self-motivated character. Time and time again, the structure has fashioned extraordinary young talent, all set to seize the task of leading their country. It seems highly possible that the growth will carry on in 2012.
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