June 2016: New York NY: A select group of America’s best basketball players are ready for Rio!
Amid the “hoopla” at a packed press conference held in the Dunlevy Milbank Center in Harlem, New York, the United States Men’s Olympic Basketball for Rio 2016 was officially introduced.
Managing Director Jerry Colangelo and Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski addressed the youth in attendance who had the opportunity to meet their heroes at the celebratory event.
Selected for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team, which is seeking a third consecutive Olympic title, are: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks/Syracuse); Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors/North Carolina); Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls/Marquette); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings/Kentucky); DeMar DeRozan(Toronto Raptors/USC); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder/Texas); Paul George (Indiana Pacers/Fresno State); Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors/Michigan State); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers/Duke);DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers/Texas A&M); Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors/Villanova); and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors/Washington State).
Following a question-and-answer session with the kids, the twelve players posed for photographs with their young admirers. Hoops fans clamoured outside the Center to capture a glimpse of their favorite basketball stars as they conversed with the press.
Nine players — Anthony, Butler, Cousins, DeRozan, Durant, George, Green, Lowry and Thompson — were named as 2016 NBA All-Stars, while Irving, who was named MVP of the 2014 World Cup after helping lead the Americans to gold, recently helped Cleveland capture the 2016 NBA championship.
Since the 1936 Olympics, the U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team has compiled an astounding 130-5 record, while earning a record 14 gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals. In 2016 the USA will look to extend its 17-0 unbeaten streak, which dates to the 2004 Olympic bronze medal game.
The twelve member 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team features six Olympic and/or FIBA World Cup Gold Medalists.
The USA National Team will train July 18-21 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Americans’ Las Vegas training concludes July 22 (6:00 p.m. PDT) with the USA Basketball Showcase presented By Verizon that features the USA facing Argentina at the T-Mobile Arena.