Bryant, James, Wade among finalists for 2012 US Olympic team

By Paul Levine Jan 16, 2012, 21:32 GMT

Los Angeles - Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are among 20 finalists named on Monday for the 2012 Olympic men's basketball team, as Team USA looks to defend its gold medal in July in London.

The remaining finalists named by USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo are: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Chauncey Billups (LA Clippers); Chris Bosh (Miami Heat); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Blake Griffin (LA Clippers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (LA Clippers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets).

'The selected finalists are a very, very talented group. The depth of the talent is extraordinary. This selection decision was as difficult of a challenge as I've faced since I took on the USA national team programme in 2005,' Colangelo said.

'I feel like we have an outstanding blend of talents from the 2008 Olympic and 2010 World Championship teams that won gold. Reducing to the official roster limit of 12 players will be an even tougher decision, but we'll evaluate how guys play during the 2011-12 NBA season and, as we've done with our teams in the past, we'll attempt to select the very best team we can.'

Miami Heat teammates Bosh, James and Wade, along with Anthony, Bryant, Howard, Paul and Williams were members of the 2008 US Olympic team that compiled an 8-0 record to capture gold in Beijing.

Anthony, James, Odom and Wade were part of the 2004 US Olympic team that earned the bronze medal in Athens, Greece.

Durant, Billups, Chandler, Gay, Gordon, Iguodala, Love, Odom, Rose and Westbrook were members of the 2010 team that claimed the gold medal at the World Championships in Istanbul.

The coaching staff is led by Duke University's Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, with long-time Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim, New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan serving as assistants.

'Aside from the obvious special basketball talents that all of these players possess, what struck me most about the finalists was their commitment to USA Basketball and the international basketball experience they have compiled,' said Krzyzewski, who has guided US teams to a 48-1 record since 2006.

'These players have helped restore the winning tradition of USA Basketball while also gaining the respect of people around the world for the manner in which they have done it.'

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