(Newswire.net — August 25, 2014) Adelaide, SOUTH AUSTRALIA — Ahead of the Basketball World Cup in Spain, Team USA announces their roster of 12 players. With their chosen team, selectors are confident Team USA can defend their World Cup title.
The lineup includes point guards Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose, Golden State Warriors Steven Curry and Cleveland Cavaliers Kyrie Irving. Shooting guards are Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson, Houston Rockets James Harden and Toronto Raptors DeMar DeRozan. Small forward is Sacramento Kings Rudy Gay and power forward is Denver Nuggets Kenneth Faried. Centres include New Orleans Pelicans Anthony Davis, Detroit Pistons Andre Drummond, Sacramento Kings DeMarcus Cousins and Brooklyn Nets Mason Plumlee.
Some of the significant cuts include Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward and Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons. USA Basketball Managing Director Jerry Colangelo stated, “Since taking over the USA Basketball Men’s National Team program in 2005, this was without doubt the most difficult selection process we’ve gone through.” He went on to state, “I can’t stress enough the outstanding effort and commitment that has been given by each finalist.”
The team head out for Spain on Friday and are still able to change the roster if necessary due to injury or withdrawal before they fly out on Friday. The FIBA world cup begins on Saturday, with Team USA’s opening game on Saturday against Finland.
Team coach Mike Krzyzewski said, “We feel that it’s better to go with 12 because that’s really difficult on anybody if they’re not going to be on the team to travel that far.” He went on to say, “I’m excited about the 12 players selected and feel we have excellent versatility and the makings of a really good defensive team.”
Despite the team losing some key players this year, selectors are confident the chosen team is good enough to defend their title. “To select 12 was difficult, because our pool is so good. As we go forward, we not only go forward as 12, we go forward as a pool for USA Basketball. As a staff we want to thank the players who are not going forward,” said coach Mike Krzyzewski.
The 12-man team selection was announced after the exhibition match against Puerto Rico on Friday night. Team USA are happy with their exhibition schedule performance and will complete it on Tuesday when they play Slovenia in Gran Canaria, Spain, before the opening of the World Cup on Saturday, August 30.
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