U.S. Senior National Basketball Team

I’m a big basketball fan and I was delighted to learn that the U.S. Senior National Basketball Team is preparing for international competition at this year’s FIBA Americas Championship. The FIBA Americas Championship features 10 men’s national teams and is one of five FIBA Olympic qualifying zone tournaments. The winner of the tournament and the runner-up will earn a qualification spot for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The U.S. is in group B and will play Venezuela, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, and Brazil. Should we advance, we’ll play representatives from Group A, which includes Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Panama, and Puerto Rico.

I’ve always liked the national team, especially the first and only true “Dream Team” back in 1996 because the NBA’s best individual players lost their egos and forewent their respective team colors and rivalries, and took up wearing the red, white, and blue of the United States. It was American basketball at its best.

The U.S. Senior National Basketball team is led by the legendary coach Mike Krzyewski (Duke University) and the 2007-2008 player pool consist of Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Houston Rockets); Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons); Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New Orleans Hornets); Kevin Durant (University of Texas); Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets); Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Mike Miller (Memphis Grizzlies); Adam Morrison (Charlotte Bobcats); Greg Oden (Ohio State University); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets); Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics); Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons); Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks); J.J. Redick (Orlando Magic); Luke Ridnour (Seattle SuperSonics); Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz). The roster finalist for the FIBA Americas Championship will be announced in August.