LaFrentz Earns Roster Spot on 2002 US Team
 Raef LaFrentz
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 12, 2002) – The USA Basketball 2002 Men's World Championship Team roster was increased to 10 with the announcement today that the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee has added NBA players Raef LaFrentz (Dallas Mavericks), Andre Miller (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics) to the USA squad. Additionally, the Senior National Team Committee announced that Duke University All-American guard Jason Williams and one other player from the collegiate ranks to be named after completion of the 2002 collegiate season will be alternates on the team. As alternates, Williams and the other selected collegian will train with the USA team.
The 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championship for Men is being held in Indianapolis, Indiana, Aug. 29- Sept. 8, 2002.
Milwaukee Bucks head mentor George Karl was announced on Oct. 9 head coach of USA Basketball's 2002 World Championship Team. San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, Stanford University (Calif.) head mentor Mike Montgomery and University of Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson were named on Dec. 13 as assistant coaches of the USA Team.
The first seven players of the World Championship squad were announced on Nov. 1 and included Olympic gold medalists Ray Allen (Milwaukee Bucks), Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets) and Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers), and 2001 NBA All-Star Antonio Davis (Toronto Raptors); Dallas Mavericks perennial All-Star Michael Finley; Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns), the USA's leading scorer and rebounder at the 2001 Goodwill Games and 2002 NBA All-Star Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers), the USA's second leading scorer and rebounder at the 2001 Goodwill Games.
"I'm thrilled to have these three guys on our side; they are all guys I wanted competing for us," said USA head coach Karl. "We've added athleticism, defense, three-point shooting, ball-handling. I love the versatility of our lineup, and I think this summer is going to be a lot of fun."
"The Committee did an excellent job selecting three quality players that will enhance our team," said USA Basketball President Tom Jernstedt. "In addition, I'm very pleased to see that the collegiate community will have involvement in a significant way with this USA World Championship Team. The inclusion of Jason Williams and one other player to be determined from the college ranks in this team's preparations will make this USA team even more representative of USA Basketball and its member organizations."
Raef LaFrentz
"This is the first time that I have been selected to play for the United States. It is a honor and a privilege to represent my country at the World Championship later this year. It is also an added bonus that I get to play with my new teammate Michael Finley on the USA team and against more of my new teammates with the Mavericks during the championship," said LaFrentz.
Now in his fourth NBA season, LaFrentz was the third overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 1998 Draft. Traded on Feb. 21, 2002, from Denver to the Dallas Mavericks, LaFrentz is currently (as of 3/12/02) averaging 14.5 points a game to rank 48th among NBA scorers, and he ranks second among NBA leaders in blocked shots posting 2.98 a game, 16th in 3-point shooting percentage hitting 41.8 percent of his tries from beyond the arc, tied for 32nd in rebounding averaging 7.3 rpg. and is tied for 45th in field goal percentage making 46.3 percent of his shots from the floor.
LaFrentz, who played along side Pierce for three seasons at the University of Kansas, was a four-year starter and an All-American in his junior and senior seasons. He joined Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal as the only players in the 1990s to earn first team Associated Press All-America honors twice. Compiling career averages of 15.8 ppg., 9.1 rpg. and a 55.5 field goal percentage, he concluded his career ranked second all-time at the school in points (2,066) and rebounds (1,186) trailing only Danny Manning in both categories. Compiling a record of 123-17 (.879 winning percentage) over his four seasons, he was part of a senior class that won more games over a four-year period than any class in KU history.
Named by the Associated Press as the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year his final two seasons, he was also tabbed All-Big 12 Conference first team by both the media and coaches his final two seasons. LaFrentz became the first KU player to average a double-double in 27 years when as a senior he posted averages of 19.8 ppg. and 11.4 rpg. and led the Jayhawks to a 35-4 record.
Gaining USA Basketball experience during the summer prior to his freshman year at Kansas, LaFrentz was selected to the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival North Team and averaged 11.8 ppg. and 6.8 rpg.
Andre Miller
"I'm excited to be part of the World Championships Team," stated Andre Miller. "It's always an honor when you're chosen to represent your country and I'm looking forward to playing for the United States in a tournament hosted in our home country."
Already owning a pair of gold medals from international competitions, Andre Miller is no stranger to USA Basketball. Most recently he helped the United States bring home the gold medal from the 2001 Goodwill Games averaging 7.4 points and 4.0 assists a game. In the USA's thrilling 106-98 overtime win over Brazil in the Goodwill Games semifinals, the 6-2 guard accounted for 16 points and six assists, including eight points in the overtime alone. As a collegian he was selected to the 1998 USA Goodwill Games Team and averaged 10.8 ppg. and 4.4 assists as the American collegians shocked the competition by winning gold. He scored 15 of a game high 18 points in the second half and overtime of the USA's 93-85 overtime victory over Australia in the gold medal game. He also averaged 6.0 ppg. and 4.9 apg. as a member of the 1997 USA 22 & Under World Championship Team that traveled to Melbourne, Australia, finished in fifth place with a 6-2 record.
In the midst of his third NBA season, Andre Miller is having his best season. He leads the league with more than 10 assists a game and has posted monster games that have included career highs in points (37), assists (22) and steals (nine). Andre Miller currently (as of 3/12/02) averages 16.8 points a game to rank 37th in scoring, and is adding a league best 10.6 assists a game, 1.45 steals a game which ranks 28th, and he is 45th in free throw percentage making 81.2 percent of his charity tries. He has already this season recorded three triple-doubles and has four for his career. It's the first time a Cavs' player has had three triple-doubles in a season and his four for a career ties Brad Daugherty for a franchise high.
As a senior at the University of Utah, he was named All-America and the 1999 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Player of the Year after leading the team in scoring (15.6 ppg.), assists (5.7 apg.) and steals (2.6 spg.). Leaving Utah as the school's all-time leader in steals with 254, he ranked second in career assists with 721 and 10th in scoring with 1,618. He led the Utes to the 1998 NCAA Tournament championship game as a junior, collecting 16 points and 14 rebounds in Utah's semifinal victory over North Carolina, and earned MVP honors of the 1998 NCAA West Regional after recording a triple-double of 18 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in Utah's upset victory over Arizona in the West Regional Final. In his four seasons at Utah, the Utes compiled a 114-20 win-loss record (.851 winning percentage) and won four WAC Conference regular season titles.
Paul Pierce
"What a thrill to be selected for the 2002 USA Basketball Men's World Championship Team. I am honored to have been chosen. I am excited and looking forward to joining my teammates," said Pierce.
Recording 19 points and seven rebounds in his first NBA All-Star game in 2002, Pierce's scoring output has continued to rise in each of his four NBA seasons and that's saying something for a player who as a rookie averaged 16.5 ppg. and earned All-Rookie first team honors. The 10th pick overall in the 1998 draft, the 6-6 forward currently (as of 3/12/02) ranks third in the NBA in scoring averaging 26.1 ppg. Pierce also ranks among the top 40 in five other statistical categories: tied for 11th in steals (1.78 spg.); 32nd in blocked shots (1.13 bpg.); 38th in free throw percentage (81.8%); tied for 38th in 3-point shooting percentage (38.9%) and 39th in rebounds (6.9 rpg.).
Pierce was named All-America first team by the Associated Press after his junior and final season at Kansas in 1997-98 and collected MVP honors of the Big 12 Conference Tournament as a junior and sophomore. Named as the Big Eight co-Freshman of the Year in 1995-96, Pierce averaged 16.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his three seasons at Kansas. As a junior he ranked 31st in the nation in scoring at 20.5 ppg, shooting a career-high 51.3 percent from the field, and also contributed 6.7 rebounds and a career-high 2.6 assists per game.
In Pierce's three seasons at KU, his Jayhawk teams compiled an overall record of 98-11 (.899 winning percentage). He left KU ranked as the program's fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,768 points (16.4 ppg.) and 12th in career rebounds with 676 (6.3 rpg.).
A member of the 1996 USA Basketball 22 and Under World Championship Qualifying Team, Pierce averaged 9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds and assisted the U.S. squad to a 5-0 mark and the gold medal. Selected as a member of the 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival West Team, in four games Pierce averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a game.
Jason Williams
"It is a tremendous accomplishment to be selected as an alternate to the USA World Championship Team," remarked Williams. "First of all, it is an exciting opportunity to play with some of the best players in the world. More importantly, it is an honor to represent my country on the team, especially in light of the recent events that have touched our nation. I will be more proud of being in a USA uniform than ever before. I am hoping that my selection will benefit the team."
The 6-2 Williams, who has said he will turn pro after the 2001-02 NCAA season, has helped Duke to a current record of 29-3 (as of 3/12/02). While Duke was selected as the No. 1 seed for the 2002 NCAA Tournament South Region, most recently the Blue Devils earned their fourth straight ACC Tournament title. Williams currently (as of 3/12/02) leads the ACC in scoring at 21.7 ppg. and ranks third in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (38.4%), fifth in steals (2.13 spg.) and sixth in assists (5.38 apg.). Williams' 2,027 (19.3 ppg.) career points ranks seventh among Duke's all-time scoring leaders and is second all-time in the ACC among juniors. Only Dennis Scott of Georgia Tech (2,115) had a better scoring total through three seasons. Williams, who has started every game (105) since arriving at Duke, has assisted the Blue Devils to an overall mark of 93-12 (.886 winning percentage), while winning or sharing two ACC regular season titles and claiming three ACC Tournament championships.
In 2000-01 as a sophomore, Williams was named National Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and was a consensus first team All-America selection. Averaging 21.6 ppg. and 6.1 apg., he led Duke to the 2001 NCAA national championship. Williams averaged 25.7 ppg. during the 2001 NCAA Tournament and led all players in the NCAA Tournament in scoring (154 points), field goals made (52) and attempted (113), three-pointers made (23) and attempted (66, a NCAA Tournament record), and assists (31) .
Williams is also no newcomer to USA Basketball. In 2000, he led the USA World Championship for Young Men Qualifying squad in scoring and ranked fourth overall in the tournament averaging 20.2 ppg., and he led everyone in assists averaging 5.8 a contest. Later that summer, Williams was back wearing USA Basketball's red, white and blue uniform after being named to the USA Basketball Select Team that was comprised of top college players. Practicing for five days against the 2000 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team that was preparing for the Sydney Olympics, the two teams met in an exhibition game and Williams accounted for 15 points, two assists and two steals in the 111-74 loss. Williams' introduction to USA Basketball came in 1999 as a member of the USA Hoop Summit Team. While leading the American squad comprised of high school seniors to a 107-95 victory over an International Select Team, Williams recorded 14 points, five rebounds and seven assists in the win.
2002 FIBA World Basketball Championship For Men
The 14th FIBA World Basketball Championship for Men format features 16 teams. Four preliminary round groups consisting of four teams each play a round-robin competition within its preliminary pool between Aug. 29-31. The top three teams from each preliminary pool advance to form two second round pools consisting of six teams each. Each team's results against teams advancing from its preliminary pool carries over to the second round standings and each team will play the other three teams in their second round pool whom they have not faced previously. The second round, which will be contested Sept. 2-4, will feature the top three finishing teams from Pool A and Pool B forming one second round pool, and the top three finishing teams from Pool C and Pool D forming the other second round pool. The top four teams from the two second round groups will then advance on to the medal round quarterfinals that are scheduled for Sept. 5, followed by the medal round semifinals on Sept. 7 and the gold and bronze medal games will be played on Sept. 8 in Conseco Fieldhouse.
FIBA conducted the 2002 Men's World Championship draw on Feb. 5 and the USA was placed in Pool C and will begin its quest for the 2002 World Championship title by facing in preliminary round play Algeria (Africa Zone #2 qualifier) on Thursday, Aug. 29, Germany (European Zone #4 qualifier) on Friday, Aug. 30 and China (Asia Zone #1 qualifier) on Saturday, Aug. 31. The USA's first three games will all be played in the RCA Dome at 8 p.m. (Indianapolis local time).
Single-session tickets for all sessions of the 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championship for Men will officially go on sale Saturday, Feb. 9, 2002 at 10 a.m. (ET). Tickets can be purchased by phoning toll free 800-NBA-TIX or 866-849-4922, or over the Internet at www.2002worldbasketball.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
The other World Championship preliminary round pools are comprised of Yugoslavia (European Zone #1 qualifier), Spain (European Zone #3 qualifier), Canada (Americas Zone #3 qualifier) and Angola (Africa Zone #1 qualifier) in Pool A; In Pool B is Brazil (Americas Zone #2 qualifier), Turkey (European Zone #2 qualifier), Puerto Rico (Americas Zone #4 qualifier) and Lebanon (Asia Zone #2 qualifier); and Pool D includes Argentina (Americas Zone #1 qualifier), Russia (European Zone #5 qualifier), New Zealand (Oceania Zone #1 qualifier) and Venezuela (Americas Zone #5 qualifier) (To view the complete 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championship for Men schedule go to: www.usabasketball.com/usab/Men/wwc_schedule.html)
USA History In FIBA World Championships
Held every four years, the 16-nation FIBA World Basketball Championship for Men is being held in the United States for the first time in the competition's history which dates back to 1950.
The USA owns a 91-23 overall record (.798 winning percentage) in World Championship play and has won three gold, three silver and three bronze medals in the 13 previous FIBA World Championships. The USA finished 7-2 and in possession of the bronze medal in the 1998 World Championship in Greece after fielding a team comprised of collegians and professional players who were either competing overseas or in the Continental Basketball Association. The United States in 1994, featuring a squad of NBA stars, won the gold in Toronto, Canada, finishing a perfect 8-0.
The USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee, which is responsible for the selection of the USA men's World Championship and Olympic teams, consists of nine members and a non-voting chair. Stu Jackson, NBA Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations, serves as chair of the Committee, and the Committee also includes Bryan Colangelo, President and General Manager of the Phoenix Suns; Billy King, General Manager of the Philadelphia 76ers; Mitch Kupchak, General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers; C.M. Newton, former athletic director at the University of Kentucky; Kevin O'Connor, Vice President of Basketball Operations of the Utah Jazz; Garry St. Jean, General Manager of the Golden State Warriors; Rod Thorn, President of the New Jersey Nets; and athlete representatives Joe Dumars, a member of the gold medalist 1994 USA World Championship Team, and Steve Smith, a member of the gold medalist 1994 USA World Championship and 2000 U.S. Olympic teams.
Ex-official members of the Committee include Tom Jernstedt, President of USA Basketball and Senior Vice President of the NCAA; Quinn Buckner, USA Basketball's Vice President for Men; and Billy Hunter, Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association and USA Basketball Board of Directors member.
| 2002 USA Basketball Men's World Championship Team | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Pro Team | College |
| Ray Allen | G | 6-5 | 205 | 7/20/75 | Milwaukee Bucks | Connecticut '96 |
| Antonio Davis | C | 6-9 | 230 | 10/31/68 | Toronto Raptors | Texas-El Paso '90 |
| Michael Finley | G/F | 6-7 | 215 | 3/6/73 | Dallas Mavericks | Wisconsin '95 |
| Jason Kidd | G | 6-4 | 212 | 3/23/73 | New Jersey Nets | California '94 |
| Raef LaFrentz | F/C | 6-11 | 240 | 5/29/76 | Dallas Mavericks | Kansas '98 |
| Shawn Marion | F | 6-7 | 215 | 5/07/78 | Phoenix Suns | UNLV '99 |
| Andre Miller | G | 6-2 | 200 | 3/19/76 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Utah '99 |
| Reggie Miller | G | 6-7 | 190 | 9/24/65 | Indiana Pacers | UCLA '87 |
| Jermaine O'Neal | C/F | 6-11 | 230 | 10/13/78 | Indiana Pacers | Eau Claire High |
| Paul Pierce | F | 6-6 | 230 | 9/10/81 | Boston Celtics | Duke '02 |
| *TBD | ||||||
| *TBD | ||||||
| Alternates | ||||||
| Jason Williams | G | 6-2 | 195 | 9/10/81 | Duke '02 | |
| *TBD |
Assistant Coach: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Assistant Coach: Mike Montgomery, Stanford University (Calif.)
Assistant Coach: Kelvin Sampson, University of Oklahoma
*Two additional players and one more alternate will be added to the USA team roster and announced at a later date.
