COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 23, 2014) – USA Basketball today announced that Utah Jazz guard/forward Gordon Hayward has been selected to the initial 2014-2016 USA Men’s National Team roster, from which the 2014 USA World Championship Team and, if the U.S. qualifies, the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team will be chosen.
Hayward (6-8, 220, Butler), who has previous USA Basketball experience, is one of 10 players named who participated this past July in the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s National team mini-camp, and he is one of six selected players who were part of 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.”
“Anytime you are chosen to represent your country it is a tremendous honor,” said Hayward. “I am very grateful for the invitation to continue my relationship with USA Basketball and hope to make the most of my opportunity.”
Currently in his fourth NBA season, Hayward has appeared in 38 games (all starts) for the Jazz, leading the team in scoring (17.3) and minutes (36.1), ranking second in assists (4.9) and third in rebounding (5.4) – all averages are career highs. The 23-year-old Jazzman was originally selected by the Jazz in the first round (ninth overall selection) of the 2010 NBA Draft, and has appeared in 248 career games (140 starts) and owns averages of 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 27.0 minutes.
The 2014-16 USA Basketball National Team coaching staff features USA head coach and Duke University’s Naismith Hall of Fame mentor Mike Krzyzewski. Serving as assistant coaches are USA Basketball and Syracuse University veteran coach Jim Boeheim, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams.
In addition to Hayward, the other players selected to the USA National Team roster include: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland), Carmelo Anthony (New York), Bradley Beal (Washington), Tyson Chandler (New York), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Stephen Curry (Golden State), Anthony Davis (New Orleans), Andre Drummond (Detroit), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City), Kenneth Faried (Denver), Paul George (Indiana), Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers), James Harden (Houston), Dwight Howard (Houston), Andre Iguodala (Golden State), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), LeBron James (Miami), Kyle Korver (Atlanta), David Lee (Golden State); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), Damian Lillard (Portland), Kevin Love (Minnesota), Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers), Derrick Rose (Chicago), Klay Thompson (Golden State), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City) and Deron Williams (Brooklyn).
A smaller group of U.S. National Team members will be selected to participate in the 2014 USA National Team’s opening training camp in July. Exact training dates and locations for the USA National Team training in 2014 will be announced at a later date.