COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (January 18, 2016) – USA Basketball today announced that Utah Jazz guard/forward Gordon Hayward is among the 30 players selected as finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team. The player selections were approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors. The official 12-member 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team roster will be announced later this year.
Hayward was also finalist for the 2014 USA Men’s World Cup Team as well. His other USA Basketball experience also includes participating in both the 2014 and 2013 USA Basketball Men’s National team mini-camps, as well as playing for the 2012 USA Select Team that trained against the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. Hayward also helped lead Team USA to a 9-0 record and a gold medal in the 2009 U19 World Championship in New Zealand. He ranked second on that team in rebounding (5.7) and third in scoring (10.0), adding 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.4 steals and shooting 41.4 percent (12-29) from 3-point range en route to being selected to the U19 World Championship’s “Best of the Best Team.”
Hayward (6-8, 226, Butler) has appeared in 40 games (all starts) for the Jazz this season, averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 35.2 minutes. He has scored 10-plus points in 37 games, including 20-or-more points on 19 occasions and 30-plus twice. Hayward also leads the Jazz in scoring, assists and minutes played, and ranks second in steals this season.
The 25-year-old career Jazzman was originally selected by Utah in the first round (ninth overall selection) of the 2010 NBA Draft, and has appeared in 403 career games (295 starts) and owns averages of 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 30.2 minutes.
Including Hayward, the 30 finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team are: LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio); Anthony; Harrison Barnes (Golden State); Bradley Beal (Washington); Jimmy Butler (Chicago); Mike Conley (Memphis); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento); Stephen Curry (Golden State); Anthony Davis (New Orleans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto); Andre Drummond (Detroit); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City); Kenneth Faried (Denver); Rudy Gay (Sacramento); Paul George (Indiana); Draymond Green (Golden State); Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers); James Harden (Houston); Dwight Howard (Houston); Andre Iguodala (Golden State); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland); LeBron James (Cleveland); DeAndre Jordan (L.A. Clippers); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio); Kevin Love (Cleveland); Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers); Klay Thompson (Golden State); John Wall (Washington); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City).
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The USA National Team’s complete training schedule for 2016 will be announced at a later date