James Harden Added as Finalist to USA Basketball Men's National Team

OKLAHOMA CITY, May 3, 2012 – Thunder guard James Harden has been added to the list of finalists for the 2012 USA Basketball National Team, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced earlier today. The official 12-man U.S. Olympic team roster will be announced later this year. Harden recently completed his third NBA season by helping lead the Thunder to a second consecutive Northwest Division title. During the 2011-12 season, Harden led the NBA in bench scoring with a 16.8 point per game average on .491 shooting (309-of-629), including .390 3-point shooting (114-of-292). “James has demonstrated a great commitment to his improvement over the last three years,” said Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager, Sam Presti. “He is a team-first player and someone that is driven by team success. We are proud to have James join Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as members of the USA Basketball National Team. The Thunder is honored by the opportunity to have three players represent our country.” Harden, along with fellow Thunder teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, are on the list of finalists set to represent the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. "Being named as a finalist for the USA Basketball team is an unbelievable feeling and an opportunity that is truly humbling. It is an honor to be included with such talented players and I look forward to the chance to represent my country this summer." The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held July 27-August 12 in London, England. Twelve teams will participate in the 2012 Olympic men’s basketball competition. The USA National Team opens its 2012 training with a July 6-12 training camp in Las Vegas, Nev., that concludes with the July 12 USA Basketball Showcase that features the USA facing the Dominican Republic at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. USA Basketball Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions. Since 2008, USA Basketball men’s and women’s teams have compiled a sterling 134-6 win-loss record in FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions. USA teams are the current men’s and women’s champions of the Olympics and the FIBA World Championships; FIBA women’s U19 world champions; the men’s and women’s title holders for the FIBA U17 World Championships; and the men’s and women’s U18 and U16 FIBA Americas champions. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls. For further information about USA Basketball, go to the official Web site of USA Basketball at www.usabasketball.com.