LeBron James and Steph Curry, opponents in this year’s NBA Finals, were among 34 NBA players named on Thursday by USA Basketball as participants in this weekend’s Olympic minicamp in Las Vegas.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Curry led the Golden State Warriors to the NBA title over James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in June’s best-of-seven final.
Last year, he helped the US win the Basketball World Cup to clinch a berth in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Photo: AFP
USA Basketball national team managing director Jerry Colangelo said that players who wanted consideration for the Rio squad needed to attend the workouts from Tuesday through Thursday next week, when a public scrimmage is to be staged.
“This year’s mini-camp is an opportunity to continue and expand the brotherhood and camaraderie that has been built,” said Colangelo, who has overseen the squad since 2005.
“The minicamp is going to be low key with light workouts, no contact and the USA Basketball Showcase will be a fun all-star type game,” he added.
The workout roster includes eight newcomers, 11 players from the World Cup champions and eight members of the 2012 London Olympics gold medal squad.
Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James, New York’s Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers are back in the fold after playing on the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London gold medal teams.
Newcomers to the camp joining the US program for the first time next week are NBA champion Golden State’s Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green, Chicago’s Jimmy Walker, Memphis’ Mike Conley, Milwaukee’s Michael Carter-Williams, Orlando’s Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo, plus DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers.
“All of them enjoyed outstanding NBA seasons in 2014-2015 and have been on our radar for a while,” Colangelo said.
The overall camp lineup includes the NBA’s top 10 scorers, six of its top-12 rebounders and seven of the top 11 players in assists from last season.
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