Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant expected to feature for team USA in the 2012 London Olympics
The Olympic Games have a rich history and a gold medal at the Olympics means more than the world to most athletes. It is considered the most prestigious sporting event in the history of man.
For most NBA players however, the Olympic gold does hold relative importance, but not as much as an NBA title.
The members of team USA have always regarded it as an achievement in its own regard, totally independent of the domestic NBA title. For them, an Olympic gold can never compensate for a lost NBA title.
The players think of it as a good opportunity to train and get ready for the NBA season and they think of their overall participation in team USA as something that would add to their portfolio.
Since the Beijing Olympics, several USA players including Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have stepped aside from their international duties. After winning the Olympic Gold in 2008, almost the entire roster deserted the team. In 2010,
the FIBA World championships saw an entirely young new team take charge and bring home the FIBA championships.
These included the likes of Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose. This however does goes to show the quality on display in the NBA. Although some stars from 2008 and other from 2010 are expected to feature in the London 2012 Olympics,
others have not expressed any keenness.
The good news though is that Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are amongst the players expected to feature.
Kobe Bryant has apparently expressed his desire to win another Olympic gold medal. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, is reportedly eyeing his first ever gold at the Olympics. The other hot shots in the form of Dwyane Wade, Chris
Bosh and LeBron James are yet to decide whether they will represent team USA at the London 2012 Olympics or not.
Both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were instrumental in leading the North Americans to a gold medal in the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
However, the basketball program of USA is considered to be extremely deep and even if the ‘big 3’ from Miami decide not to represent their nation, team USA has enough depth with players like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.
Besides, the team that won last year’s FIBA World Championships has a bunch of talented young guns hungry for a chance to play in the Olympics. Players such as the likes of Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Kevin
Love, Andre Iguodala, Eric Gordon and Rudy g*y will be ready to offer their services under any circumstances.
The USA development system is often praised for its dynamic nature. Time and time again, the system has produced exceptional young talent, ready to take over the responsibility of leading their nation and it seems highly likely
that the process will continue come 2012.
So when the Olympics do arrive, the rest of the world will have its work cut out on the basketball court.
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