U.S. basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo (R) and the 12 players selected for the 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team pose during a news conference at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada July 7, 2012. Back row (L – R) Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love, Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Front row (L – R) Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams, James Harden, Andre Iguodala and Kobe Bryant. STEVE MARCUS/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive353448
Well NBA fans, there’s no need to pine for next year’s season just yet. Bringing all of the greats of the NBA together to compete for the Red, White and Blue is something almost awe-inspiring. It’s something between thrilling and touching to see these athletes put down their separate jerseys and forget about the money to don Team USA, coming together and forgetting they spent the past season in battle.
With some fighting words from Kobe Bryant who claimed this team could beat the idolized Dream Team of ’92, controversy has flared with everyone from MJ to Obama being interviewed and a national poll put up online. Most everyone is enraged at his presumption, but there are some who agree with him. Whether or not he’s right, no one can deny that this team is about to kick some major trash. High expectations are set for this team of 12 and their coach who has four NCAA titles and already an Olympic gold team in his past.
The U.S. has generally dominated Men’s Basketball, and so far Team USA has won their first two exhibition games. They faced the Dominican Republic in Las Vegas and won in a blow out of 113-59. The flew to Washington D.C. to face Brazil where they won by eleven, 80-69. The big stir there was President Obama and his wife Michelle appearing 0n the kiss cam.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama appear on the kiss cam during the Olypmics-bound U.S. men’s national basketball team game against Brazil at the Verizon Center on Monday, July 16, 2012, in Washington, D.C. LESLIE E. KOSSOFF/POLARIS IMAGES/MCT/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: krtphotoslive560962
With injuries pervading this year’s team, Team USA in a rut turned to the number one draft pick, straight from Kentucky University Anthony Davis. It’ll be fun to watch how Davis fares in his first few games in the “big league” when he hasn’t even played in an NBA game yet.
Here is your 2012 Team USA Men’s Basketball Team:
#15 Carmelo Anthony- New York Knicks
#10 Kobe Bryant- L.A. Lakers
#4 Tyson Chandler- New York Knicks
#14 Anthony Davis- New Orleans Hornets (just signed)
#5 Kevin Durant- Oklahoma City Thunder
#12 James Harden- Oklahoma City Thunder
#9 Andre Iguodala- Philadelphia 76ers
#6 LeBron James- Miami Heat
#11 Kevin Love- Minnesota Timberwolves
#13 Chris Paul- L.A. Clippers
#7 Russell Westbrook- Oklahoma City Thunder
#8 Deron Williams- Brooklyn Nets
Head Coach- Mike Krzyzewski- Duke University
July 16, 2012 – Washington D.C, District of Columbia, U.S – USA’s, CHRIS PAUL, in action against Brazil, in an exhibition game held at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. The USA won the game 80-69. Ricky Fitchett/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotosfive549956
LAS VEGAS, July 9, 2012 Kobe Bryant attends a training session of the U.S. men’s basketball team for the London 2012 Olympic Games, in Las Vegas July 8, 2012. Song Qiong/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotosfive531379.
July 11, 2012 – Los Angeles, California, U.S. – No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis poses on the red carpet before the 2012 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre Wednesday. Kevin Sullivan/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumasportswesttwo490862
Minneapolis, MN, U.S. – The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love scraps for a rebound against the New Orleans Hornets at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Marlin Levison/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumasportswesttwo403118
Russell Westbrook of the Olympic men’s basketball team of the United States answers question during a news conference in Las Vegas, the United States, July 7, 2012. SONG QIONG/CHINE NOUVELLE/SIPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: sipaphotosthree661296
Deron Williams of Team USA goes up for a layup against Brazil during their Olympic men’s exhibition basketball game in Washington July 16, 2012. KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive365171
Andre Iguodala (L) of the U.S. 2012 Olympic men’s basketball team defends against Eulis Baez of the Dominican Republic during an exhibition game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada July 12, 2012. STEVE MARCUS/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive360424
Tyson Chandler of the U.S. 2012 Olympic men’s basketball team smiles during their exhibition game against the Dominican Republic at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada July 12, 2012. STEVE MARCUS/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive360381
Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden (C) is guarded by Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade (R) and center Chris Bosh (L) during first half action in game three of the NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida USA, 17 June 2012. LARRY W. SMITH/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos449897
LeBron James of the US vies with Anderson Varejao of Brazil during an exhibition game in Washington on July 16, 2012. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour577647
USA’s Kevin Durant (5) soars to the basket for a slam dunk against Brazil during the second half of their exhibition game at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Monday, July 16, 2012. USA defeated Brazil 80-69. Harry E. Walker/ABACAUSA.COM/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: abausaphotos765501
New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (R) commits an offensive foul against Atlanta Hawks forward Ivan Johnson (L) during the first half of their NBA basketball game at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. ERIK S. LESSER/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos394246
Las Vegas cheerleaders perform during an exhibition game between the 2012 United States Men’s Olympic basketball team and the Dominican Republic at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada July 12, 2012. STEVE MARCUS/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive360389
Find more of Team USA and their athletes at Newscom.
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Tags: 2012 men's basketball, 2012 olympics, basketball, gold medal team, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, lebron james, Men's Basketball, nba, Olympics, Team USA