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Rudy Gay selected as finalist for 2010 USA World Championship Team

MEMPHIS, July 28, 2010 – Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay was selected as one of 15 finalists for the 2010 USA World Championship Team, USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo announced today. The announcement follows the completion of the 2010-12 USA Men’s National Team’s training camp held in Las Vegas from July 19-24.

Gay, a 6-8, 230-pound forward, has spent his entire four-year career with the Grizzlies, compiling averages of 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.25 steals in 318 games (282 starts). The 23-year-old, who signed a multi-year contract extension on July 8, scored a team-high 23 points (7-of-11 FG, 3-of-4 3FG) to go with five rebounds, two steals, two blocks and one assist in the USA Basketball Showcase on July 24, an intra-squad scrimmage played on the last day of the training camp. His effort marks the second consecutive year that he’s led his team in scoring in the USA Basketball Showcase, leading all scorers with 27 points (11-of-12 FG) in last year’s game played on July 25, 2009.

Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo also participated in the training camp but was not selected as a finalist for the 2010 USA World Championship team. Mayo trailed only Gay on his team in the USA Basketball Showcase with 18 points while adding seven rebounds, two assists and one steal.

The other 14 players named as finalists are Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets), Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers), Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers), Jeff Green (Thunder), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers), Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets), Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers), Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics), Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) and Russell Westbrook (Thunder). The official 12-man USA roster that will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship must be submitted to FIBA at the technical meeting that is normally held the day prior to the start of the competition.

The 15 finalists will reassemble in New York, N.Y. on Aug. 9 and take part in training sessions there from Aug. 10-16. The first-ever World Basketball Festival, a four-day celebration of the game’s performance and culture, will commence in New York on Aug. 12. The USA will compete in exhibition games against France (Aug. 15), Lithuania (Aug. 21), Spain (Aug. 22) and Greece (Aug. 25) before participating in the 2010 FIBA World Championship from Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kayseri, Turkey.

The 2010 FIBA World Championship consists of 24 countries divided into four preliminary round groups of six teams each, with the USA competing against Brazil, Croatia, Iran, Slovenia and Tunisia in Group B. The winner of the World Championship automatically earns a berth in the 2012 London Olympics. The USA last earned gold at the event in 1994.