Two years ago, Thunder players were an integral part of the 2012 Olympics as the United States and Spain battled for the Gold Medal. In the final game, Kevin Durant led the USA with 30 points and nine rebounds, while Serge Ibaka scored 12 points and snared nine rebounds for Spain.
This summer, Durant and Ibaka will be back at it again, as the two national teams participate in the 2014 World Championships, which will be hosted in Spain and culminate in Barcelona and Madrid.
Along with the rest of the United States men’s basketball team, the Thunder’s own Kevin Durant begins training camp today, July 28th, in Las Vegas, Nev., while across the Atlantic Ocean, Ibaka and Thunder 2013 Draft selection Alex Abrines begin preparing along with the Spanish team.
The United States’ training in Las Vegas ends on August 1st with the USA Basketball Showcase at 8:00 p.m. CDT. The team will then travel to Chicago, Ill. For two more days of training and an exhibition game against Brazil on August 16th at 8:00 p.m. CT. From August 18th-22nd, the United States squad will be training in New York City, squaring off against the Dominican Republic on August 20th and Puerto Rico on August 22nd in two more exhibition games before departing for Spain. Training camp concludes for the Untied States in Gran Canaria, Spain with two days of practice and a final exhibition tune-up against Slovenia on August 26th.
From there, the preliminary round of the tournament begins. Spain will play in Granada in Group A along with Egypt, Serbia, France, Brazil and Iran, while the United States will play in Bilbao along with the Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Finland, Ukraine and Turkey. The schedule for the preliminary round is listed below:
Saturday August 30th:
United States vs. Finland at 2:30 p.m. CDT
Spain vs. Iran at 3:00 p.m. CDT
Sunday August 31st:
United States vs. Turkey at 2:30 p.m. CDT
Spain vs. Egypt at 3:00 p.m. CDT
Monday September 1st:
Spain vs. Brazil at 3:00 p.m. CDT
Tuesday September 2nd:
United States vs. New Zealand at 10:30 a.m. CDT
Wednesday September 3rd:
United States vs. Dominican Republic at 2:30 p.m. CDT
Spain vs. France at 3:00 p.m. CDT
Thursday September 4th:
United States vs. Ukraine at 10:30 a.m. CDT
Spain vs. Serbia at 3:00 p.m. CDT
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The Round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals will be held in Madrid and Barcelona. If both nations with Thunder players on the roster advance, the United States will play in Madrid and Spain will play in Barcelona in the knockout rounds. The World Championships culminate on Sunday, September 14th with the Gold Medal Game in Madrid at 2:00 p.m. CDT. Come back to thunder.nba.com for broadcast information and updates throughout the tournament.