U.S Basketball squad heads for training camp for the 2012 London Olympics – NBA Update
LeBron James and Kevin Durant were training partners during the lockout last year, but then became superstars on opposite team fighting for NBA crown in the Finals a few weeks ago.
And now again, both prepare to be training partners one more time as they prepare to travel to Las Vegas for the training camp of the 2012 London Olympics, which will kick off this weekend.
It is the first time both players will share the basketball court on an international stage, one a three time and reigning MVP and the other a three time and reigning scoring champion. They are not new to international basketball
in individual capacities as James was part of the U.S team that won Gold medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, while Durant was one of the stars in the 2010 World Basketball Championship in Turkey.
If the U.S team wants to continue their trend of winning gold at major international tournaments, both players will need to play better than they have ever done before.
This year 15 players have been invited to the training camp out of which 12 will travel to London. But before they get to London where the opening ceremony will take place on July 27th, they have training camp followed
by 5 exhibition games in the build up to the summer games.
With a shortened NBA season that finished late due to the lockout, they have very little time to get accustomed to each other on the court.
The roster is quite stretched this year, with star players such as Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Chauncey Billups and Lamar Odom missing out on the action this time around. Except for Odom, all other players
have been sidelined due to injuries. LaMarcus Aldridge is also sidelined with a season ending back injury.
This means that the U.S Olympic team will only have 1 centre in Tyson Chandler, and Kevin Love and Blake Griffin as other players who can play in the low post. That puts Durant, James and possibly Carmelo Anthony on the power forward
position, even though they play small forwards in the NBA.
Whatever the case, the 12 man squad is scheduled to be announced in a few days by U.S Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
“We would have already made the decision if it wasn’t for the injuries and the length of the NBA season. We have a pretty good idea of who will be on the team, but the last one or two spots, you’re not sure of, so you want to see
the guys physically and talk to them,” said Krzyzewski while talking to the Associated Press.
The lack of bigs does not mean the team in lacking in talent by any means. Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, James, Durant, Anthony, Russell Westbrook, Rudy g*y and Andre Iguodala are all expected to make it into the team,
which is being tipped as the favourites to win the gold medal one more time.
Durant was quite excited about his first opportunity to participate in the Olympic games, the biggest international tournament for the sport of Basketball.
“I’ll be very happy to go to the Olympics. It’s something every basketball player dreams about since childhood. I’ll be very proud to represent my country in that competition and I’ll give my best to help the team reach the gold
medal,” said Durant while talking to FIBA.com.
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