No fuckin' with the US basketball team next time around. Options

[Guest_Vitamin X_*]

I know they've only named two players thus far, and obviously the second one is the one that piqued my interest in this story. But read on..

Kobe will be part of U.S. team at worlds, Olympics

PHOENIX (AP) -- Kobe Bryant plans to play for the U.S. team at this year's world basketball championships and the 2008 Olympics.

Bryant gave an emphatic nod to joining the U.S. team in a meeting Friday with the head of USA Basketball, Jerry Colangelo.

"I had a previous conversation with him and we said we would meet again when he came to Phoenix," Colangelo said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He's really excited about it. He's really kind of juiced about representing the United States. He had some great things to say about the opportunity."

Bryant was in town for the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

Bryant joins LeBron James as the two players who have been publicly named to the 20-man U.S. roster that will report to a training camp in Las Vegas this summer, then travel to a series of exhibition games in China and South Korea before taking part in the world championships in Japan.

There will be a training camp again next year, followed by another round of training and exhibition games in 2008 leading up to the Beijing Olympics.

The remaining 18 players will be announced after the All-Star break, Colangelo said. The selection and acceptance of James and Bryant was announced to clear the way for promotional efforts in China, Colangelo said.

Bryant had been expected to take part in the Athens Olympics in 2004 but withdrew to deal with a sexual assault case against him in Colorado. The charge against him ultimately was dropped and Colangelo complemented Bryant's behavior since then.

"I think he's done a great job of positioning himself in terms of his persona and conduct," Colangelo said. "In representing his country, he can expand on that."

Colangelo called Bryant "one of the one or two most prolific, dominant players in the game right now. If you can field a team with someone of his caliber, that's a pretty important step."

"He's almost unstoppable in terms of his performance," Colangelo said. "There's a competitiveness about him that kind of wills his teams to wins."

While Bryant is a scoring machine with the Lakers, he will have no qualms about reducing his role on the U.S. team, Colangelo said.

"I think Kobe Bryant is a player with enough moxie to go along with his talent that he'll adjust to whatever his role is," Colangelo said. "In fact, that's exactly what he said today."

After the U.S. team struggled to a bronze medal in Athens, USA Basketball appointed Colangelo to the new position of managing director. He was given charge to personally select the U.S. team and coaching staff. He said it will not be a collection of superstars but a true national team complete with role players. Players must give a three-year commitment that includes this year's worlds.

Duke's Mike Krzyzewski will coach to team.

Bryant's decision was first reported Friday afternoon by The Rocky Mountain News.

So, a team with LeBron and Kobe coached by Mike K.? Hopefully they'll get a good frontcourt to go along with it all.

[razazteca]

Meh, can this group of players be more successful than the Athens, Night Terrors Team which did nothing but drive down the lane?

[Vampiro69]

Will anyone else get a chance to shoot the ball with Kobe and James on the court at the same time?

[Ripper]

I would bet anyone in the world money that if you gave the last olympic team a different coach they would have won the gold.

[snuffbox]

Kobes going to average 55 points a game and bring home a sweet bronze medal.

[Precious Roy]

What pisses me off is that Kobe is only playing because he wants the glory of avenging our disgraceful loss in Athens. He's "juiced" now, why wasn't he all about it last time? Ditto for Shaq, who now "expresses interest" but wanted nothing to do with it last time.

Kobe had to go to court during the Athens games. It's not just about avenging the bronze, it's about doing something unique and something he probably wouldn't have the chance to do again. Totally different.

[The Czech Republ...]

Yeah to be fair, Kobe-n-Shaq were a little tied up that summer.



Man, that "Kobe was great IN court today, but he's even better ON the court tonight!" shit made me want to kill a man.

Yeah, those Sportscenter's with Stuart Scott were killing me.

[Hawk 34]

You just know this will prompt talk, if Kobe/LeBron and Mike K work well together during the games about how much "better" Kobe and LeBron would have been if they played college. You can almost place money on this, it will be a sub-story that the networks will try to push.

Yes, they'll push that the age limit was a great idea and that we should be glad that all young players are going to get a chance to play for coaches like Coach K, Roy Williams, Boeheim, Calhoun and Lute Olsen.

[naiwf]

Until they add someone who can hit jump shots with regularity like Michael Redd or Ray Allen I still don't think we'll be able to win the gold. It'd also be nice if we brought one lock down defender even if he can't score ala Ben Wallace.

[Brett Favre]

Fill the rest of the team up with Billups, Hinrich, Redd, Szczberiak, Garnett, and Frye. Yeah, I said Frye. He could straight up shoot. Then just add other star players I guess.

[alfdogg]

I'd say Elton Brand is a must-have, as well. He's playing the best ball of his career, Duncan's already said he's not playing, and I doubt KG will end up playing, either.

I'd add Allen, Ben Wallace, Amare, Garnett, Billups, Redd, Rip Hamilton, Jermaine O'Neal and a few other guys, Brand and Chris Paul among them.

[Brett Favre]

Add Brad Miller too. He's perfect for international play.

Take out Garnett from my list, and you have your 12 players. I'm pretty sure that my list will be near accurate, unless they go on a binge and add Baron Davis, J-Rich and Wade. If that happens, they won't take gold.

EDIT: I forgot Chris Bosh on that little binge list. I like him a lot, but I don't think he's right for international play.

[Precious Roy]

Really, Kobe and LeBron alone should be enough to ensure victory if they get the right team around them.

I'm thinking, if we go into it today:

Elton Brand
Ben Wallace
Rasheed Wallace
Brad Miller
Lamar Odom
Kyle Korver
Ray Allen
Richard Hamilton
Andre Miller
Jason Kidd

Or something like that. Obviously a lot can change in two years though.

I would have put Rasheed on my list, but his attitude problem wouldn't fly with Coach K.

[Precious Roy]

what attitude problem? Dude seems pretty together these days, and he's totally unselfish on the court. Plus his game is so dynamic, it's perfect for Olympic play

His game is perfect, those technicals aren't. If he got one of them during a game, he could wind up in Coach K's doghouse. Not that I really care, the U.S. is going to win a gold whether it's Rasheed or Jermaine O'Neal out there.

[Guest_Princess Leena_*]

No fuckin' with the US basketball team next time around.

Kobe Bryant

No. I'm sure Kobe could find a Chinese girl to rape.

[Ripper]

Until they add someone who can hit jump shots with regularity like Michael Redd or Ray Allen I still don't think we'll be able to win the gold. It'd also be nice if we brought one lock down defender even if he can't score ala Ben Wallace.

They almost won the gold with NO jumpshooters. The most talented guys were just sitting on the bench though.

[naiwf]

Until they add someone who can hit jump shots with regularity like Michael Redd or Ray Allen I still don't think we'll be able to win the gold. It'd also be nice if we brought one lock down defender even if he can't score ala Ben Wallace.

They almost won the gold with NO jumpshooters. The most talented guys were just sitting on the bench though.

Yeah, but the other teams get better over time too. Years ago the 'C' team would have won every game by 15 instead of the 'A' team's 30 or 40. Now we don't have that luxury.

[lomasmoney]

The thing is they are asking for two to four year commitments meaning the guys who play at the worlds will be playing next summer games as well. I think they need a guy like Ben Wallace or even like an Antonio Davis. They need a team guy and a random shooter or three and they will be set. International play is odd in that it is and has been designed to not favor the american style of basketball. You need shooters and whatnot compared to normal basketball that we play in the States where a big dude or two will win you the game everytime if you have guys who are competent enough to even dribble

[2GOLD]

Put on Ron Artest. Because he's an American.
And make sure Lebron doesn't take the last shot, it doesn't seem to be his thing right now.

[Vampiro69]

And make sure Lebron doesn't take the last shot, it doesn't seem to be his thing right now.

`SNAP (IMG:http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[alfdogg]

Shawn Marion is in.

[The Ghost of bps...]

This is what got them into trouble before.

Other countries bring TEAMS.

USA brings STARS.

Hopefully we medal.

[Steviekick]

Wasn't Allen Iverson the first to say he'd be in?