Getting Loose with USA Basketball in Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Encamped with USA Basketball. There could be worse hotels than the Wynn to conduct business. Very tall gamblers stand out, but not here. Here fame is owning your own restaurant or starring in the original Spiderman. Mike Krzyzewski prefers staying at his friend Steve's megacomplex and casino. Maybe its the neon bullfrog that appears over the crest of the waterfall only slightly less often than old faithful each night. We may never know.


Incredible practice sessions against the select team before and after the final 13-man roster was announced. Kyrie Irving and Derrick Cousins showed off their skills on the young pro squad working out the pros on the court.  High flying dunks by Carmelo. 'The Durantula' raining three's.  All of this in UNLV's practice facility which reminds me more of my high school gym just with an executive viewing balcony.


The best of the NBA blend in well here. The glitz and glamour of this town suits the most gifted athletes in the world.  This group plays in the All Star game each year, but when Coach K, Jerry Colangelo, and the coaching staff cut that team in half, you're left with essentially the unification of the two previous gold medal winning senior national teams.


It's really a tale of two teams.  Kevin Durant led USA to gold in Turkey scoring more than 33 points per game in the final four games of the FIBA World Championship in 2010. His Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook solidified the backcourt of this stout lineup rounded out by Kevin Love, Andre Iguodala, and Tyson Chandler. In 2008, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James claimed Olympic gold in Beijing at the previous Olympics supported by Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Deron Williams. 


For one reason or another, whether it be medical (Dwyane Wade's getting knee surgery) or psychological (Lamar Odom returns to his Kardashian home roots in LA), many from each gold medal-winning team are not on this 'best of' squad.


Joining Dwyane and Lamar are Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups. (note: most of these guys are big men). So we ask the same question posed in 2008, 'Who fills the #5?' Lebron and defensive player of the year with the New York Knickerbockers Tyson Chandler. Plus they don't need an outright center just like FC Barcelona and Spain don't need a true #9 striker. It's the movement, the flow, that counts for this stacked roster of ballers who pose threats to opponents on every inch of the floor.


Notably, the only player in this team to have been born in the 70's is Kobe Bryant. Regardless of whether or not the rules continue to allow players 23 and older to compete in the Summer Games, its the last shot for the old guard. Read my piece on Kobe Bryant, the 5 time NBA Championship-winning guard as he seeks to win his 2nd gold medal - at a moment in his career and life which presents him with a lot of 'last time' motivation - soon to be published in The Guardian and posted here.