Durant, Anthony lead US Olympic basketball team

Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes will all represent the Golden State Warriors when they team up to play for the United States Men’s Basketball team at the 2016 Olympics. The 2012 MSU graduate earned his first All-Star appearance in February and became the first player in league history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocks in a season.

The 12-man roster announced Monday also includes Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers), Kevin Durant (Thunder), Anthony Carmelo (Knicks), DeAndre Jordan (Clippers), Jimmy Butler (Bulls), DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry (Raptors) and Paul George (Pacers).

The 2016 Summer Olympic Games will be held August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and it will feature twelve nations in the 2016 Olympic men’s basketball competition.

Thompson, a potential starter as shooting guard, will likely be joined by Kyrie Irving, one of the stars of the NBA Finals during which the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Warriors in seven games, at point guard. Anthony is the first American male basketball player named to four Olympic teams.

It’s possible that the 2016 roster is the USA’s weakest roster in years, but is it weak enough to keep the team from winning the gold?

‘I love our depth, which is another indication of the depth of talent our national team is blessed with, ” Colangelo said in a statement. He will be assisted by Syracuse University Hall of Fame mentor Jim Boeheim, Minnesota Timberwolves Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams.

He played two seasons at Carolina (2010-12), leading UNC to a 61-14 record, ACC regular-season titles in both 2011 and 2012, back-to-back ACC Tournament championship game appearances and consecutive Elite 8 berths in the NCAA Tournament. “We have lightning-quick guards who can score and distribute the basketball”.

The current team is to begin training in Las Vegas next month and then play several exhibitions, including a game against China at Staples Center on July 24. In 2004, Argentina took the gold and the USA ended up with a bronze medal.

The national team will train for the Olympics in Las Vegas before embarking on a tour of pre-game exhibitions in Las Vegas, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.

The US will be favourites to win a third consecutive Olympic gold under coach Mike Krzyzewski, who will leave after the games following a decade in the job.