Following four days of training and an intra-squad exhibition game that were held July 19-24 in Las Vegas, Nev., USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo today announced that 15 players had been selected as finalists for the 2010 USA World Championship Team.
Named as finalists for the USA World Championship Team were Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder);Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Jeff Green (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala(Philadelphia 76ers); Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets);Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom(Los Angeles Lakers); Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics);Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Russell Westbrook(Oklahoma City Thunder).
Tyreke Evans, Gerald Wallace, O.J. Mayo and JaVale McGee, where the players cut from the roster.
O.J. Mayo played well in the exhibition game, but his only effectiveness as a two-guard must have hurt his chances. I was really hoping that JaVale McGee made the team.
The 15 finalists will reassemble Aug. 9 in New York City and train there Aug. 10-16. The official 12-man USA roster that will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship must be submitted to FIBA at the technical meeting that normally is held the day prior to the start of the competition.
The USA World Championship Team hopefuls will begin their training Aug. 10 with a 12 -3 p.m. (EDT) practice at John Jay College. The World Championship Festival tips off Aug. 12 in Radio City Music Hall with a special showcase featuring the USA Basketball World Championship team finalists and moves uptown to Harlem’s legendary Rucker Park basketball courts on Aug. 13 and 14.
The Festival concludes Sunday, Aug. 15, when the USA squad takes on France at Madison Square Garden, 1 p.m. (EDT), in the first game of an exhibition doubleheader. China will meet Puerto Rico at 3:30 p.m. (EDT) in the second contest. Tickets for the exhibition doubleheader, which start at $15, are available on the Web viawww.Ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com, by phone at 1-800-4-NBA-TIX, and at the box office at Madison Square Garden.
