USA Basketball

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It was one of those games Saturday night for the USA Men's Olympic basketball team - a 90-87 loss to a Nigeria team the U.S. beat by 83 and 44 points in previous international matchups — when you say at least no one was hurt.

But, whew, LaVine appeared to shake off the effects of an apparent ankle sprain late in the second quarter. He returned to the game and played a leading role in the second half, even finding himself on the free throw line with the U.S. trailing by three points with 3.5 seconds left. One of six American players to score in double figures with 10 points, LaVine missed the first free throw. So he had to intentionally miss the second. But the U.S. failed to secure the rebound and Nigeria went on to become the first nation from Africa to defeat a U.S. team in international competition, albeit an exhibition preparing for the games later this month in Japan.

The Nigerian team did have a half dozen players who are and have been in the NBA, though mostly role players like Gabe Vincent, Precious Achiuwa, Josh Okogie, KZ Okpala, Ekpe Udoh and Chicagoan Jahlil Okafor, the latter who didn't play. They are coached by former Cavs coach Mike Brown. The U.S. team was without three players from the NBA Finals, but started Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal.

Coach Gregg Popovich said the team still is experimenting with lineups and rotations. LaVine was first off the bench for the U.S. team.

But the more celebrated U.S. players were generally outhustled by the seemingly more motivated Nigerian team. One U.S. strategic question with the selection of the team is the lack of size with Adebayo, Kevin Love and Draymond Green along with Durant the apparent centers. The U.S. was massively outrebounded 46-34. Surprisingly, though, it was the three-point shooting of the Nigerian players that was decisive with 20 makes to 10 for the more proficient U.S. players. Though embarrassing for a U.S. team of All-Stars, Popovich labeled the result a positive for both the message it can send to the U.S. team and the schemes to alter.

The U.S. also doesn't have a classic facilitating guard on the roster with their perimeter players scoring playmakers.

LaVine played point guard extensively for the reserve unit.

The Bulls high scoring guard played the most minutes of the U.S. players off the bench, shooting four of eight overall and two of six on threes. His only free throws were that pair at the end of the game.

Durant and Beal shot a combined five for 20, which enabled the Nigeria team to hold onto a fourth quarter lead and survive a late rush when the U.S. team became more desperate. Perhaps the relative ease in taking a lead early reassured the U.S. players as the U.S. lead by 10 late in that second quarter when LaVine went to the locker room with an apparent ankle sprain.

He was closing out on a three-point attempt when he landed awkwardly and grabbed his left ankle. LaVine stayed down a bit as the U.S. called time. He walked to the locker room for treatment, a scare for the Bulls and U.S. team with a worried look on the face of managing director Jerry Colangelo. But LaVine returned to the U.S. bench before halftime and seemed not to have problems with the ankle in the second half. LaVine caught a lob pass for a layup late in the third quarter.

As LaVine said he would, he picked up defensively in the backcourt, went over screens and on one occasion fronted a bigger player in the post to get a steal. Analyst Fran Fraschilla on the broadcast said LaVine could be "a defensive stopper for this team."

But without much rim protection, Nigeria players were able to get to the basket for scores.

The game toggled back and forth in the third quarter after the U.S. had an early nine-point lead and despite a late flurry by the U.S. with Durant making a pair of threes, Nigeria repeatedly came up with big threes of their own for the final result surprise. The U.S. continues its warmups Monday 7 p.m. in Las Vegas against Australia.

Zach LaVine vs Nigeria - USA Basketball Highlight

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LaVine scores ten in Team USA exhibition loss to Nigeria, 90-87

Sam Smith

The players, coaches, and staff of USA Basketball are returning to a world of masks, Covid testing, and perhaps playing without fans in attendance. On Monday, Tokyo confirmed 342 new Covid cases, the 16th straight day of an increase.

It's a phrase we often hear directed toward members of the military. Though there are many ways to perform public service, like government work, police and fire protection and enforcement, medical and hospital employment, aid to the disadvantaged and elderly.

Basketball, too, like your USA Olympic teams.

Few are going to look at it that way. After all, these young men are wealthy, really wealthy, celebrated, and just going to play games. But that's why this USA men's basketball Olympic team that includes the Bulls Zach LaVine also is performing public service.

Because not only do these athletes not have to—unlike most Olympics participants whose principal chance at earnings is even four years—but this has been a most unusual compressed NBA season with yet another short offseason to come before the start of next season on the regular calendar in September.

And then also to put back on their face masks, return to daily Covid testing, wear tracking devices constantly to avoid exposure. And then perhaps return to the enclosed environments of the past winter with Tokyo experiencing a Covid surge with a slow vaccine rollout that forced elimination of spectators from the games beginning July 23. On Monday, Tokyo confirmed 342 new cases, the 16th straight day of an increase. The government announced new restrictions Thursday.

Yet, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton and Devin Booker from the competing Finals teams told USA Basketball they will get on planes immediately after the Finals and fly directly to Tokyo to join their teammates. USA Basketball Managing Director Jerry Colangelo said last week LaVine practically jumped through the phone to accept an invitation. Kevin Durant, despite missing more than half the regular season games just back this season from a torn Achilles, signed on. So did Kevin Love despite missing 47 games injured and already with two gold medals. As did Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum despite turmoil with their teams. USA players are not paid.

LaVine lays it in past Timberwolves big man and USA Select Team member Naz Reid.

Most, of course, are comfortable with contracts guaranteeing more than $100 million. But NBA players have been perhaps as vulnerable as ever this past season to so called soft tissue injuries and long periods of inactivity for injury. There have been various theories, if few facts, including LeBron James blaming the surfeit of games in a short period of time without the usual offseason.

But still they wanted to serve and wear that red-white-and-blue.

"It boils down to what I told them," coach Gregg Popovich from the Spurs told media on a Zoom conference Wednesday. "I think they are making a really big and important sacrifice considering Covid for a year and a half, being in the bubble and then going through this season. Society wise the social issues going on exacerbate the feelings you might have during Covid, being isolated so much. And the quick turnaround to go back over and especially the three guys who will come right after the Finals.

"I think it's a testament to their character, their desire to show the world they can be the best basketball team," Popovich added. "They love playing, but to me I call it a sacrifice. They're sacrificing a lot. They can't take their friends or family to Tokyo. I don't know what fans are going to be there. I don't know if even what Japanese fans are going to be there from everything we hear. It's a huge sacrifice and I think they deserve a lot of credit for that."

Grant Hill is replacing Colangelo as USA Basketball manager. Because of the restrictions on the traveling party he won't be able to travel with the team to Japan. USA Basketball teams historically have played a series of games overseas to prepare for the Games.

Because of the virus restrictions and complications, the USA team will play five exhibition games in Las Vegas starting Saturday in a controlled environment. Media has not been permitted to attend the training camp. There has never been a USA Basketball isolation of this magnitude, and it only gets stricter and more complicated when the team arrives in Japan. The team will not be permitted to leave the hotel in Tokyo basically except for games and practices.

Again, like last summer. Yet another bubble.

But it hasn't popped for some of the best in the NBA.

Colangelo and Popovich with assistants Steve Kerr, Lloyd Pierce and Jay Wright had little trouble assembling a team with every one having been an All-Star except Jerami Grant amid multiple all-NBA and all-defensive team players. It's one of the more experienced teams with an average age of 28 and three returning gold medalists in Durant, Love and Draymond Green. It's not a big team with Bam Adebayo the center, but with the seven-foot Durant and a plethora of top shooters with Lillard, Booker, Bradley Beal and LaVine.

"I've always been excited about the Olympics," said Popovich, who missed the cut when he tried for the 1972 team. "Being part of the Olympics has been a dream, a chance to be part of something special. I look in the mirror and say, ‘What am I doing here?' It's a heck of a privilege and great fun. You feel amazed you can be in that kind of company. If you can represent your country against the rest of the world to preserve our game and be the best, that challenge is energizing and something I look forward to."

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Zach LaVine & Team USA returning to "bubble" life as they prepare for Olympics

Patrick Williams is in Las Vegas as part of the USA Select Team, a group of young NBA talent that practices with and against the USA Olympic Team. He spoke to reporters on Wednesday evening about his reaction to getting the invitation, having dinner with Zach LaVine, and more.

Watch out USA Basketball. Here comes Marc Gasol and Pau Gasol, Luka Doncic, Rudy Gobert and Nic Batum, Joe Ingles, Aron Baynes and Patty Mills, Tomas Satoransky and Rui Hachimura. But first the NBA's best will have to deal with Patrick Williams.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who is coaching the preparatory USA Select Team, says the NBA stars should get a stern test from the Bulls Second Team All-Rookie forward.

"(He fits) really well," Spoelstra told reporters about Williams Tuesday on a Zoom call from the Las Vegas training camp. "Just from a physical standpoint, the US main team has this incredible firepower, right? Lot of 30-point scorers, lot of guys that can facilitate and help space for those guys. But it starts with having players who are physically, even capable of being even on the same court. Patrick is quite a physical specimen. Extremely strong and agile. He can play either the wing position or play that versatile four position. I think he's set up in the future to be a great two-way basketball player, to be able to defend virtually everybody on the floor whatever your scheme may be. And then offensively his game has already really grown. You can tell he's extremely dedicated to have that kind of improvement."

It's the gold for Bulls fans with the 6-8 rookie who still isn't 20 years old - part of the USA team that will help prepare the Olympic men's basketball team for the Tokyo Games starting later this month.

Patrick Williams started 71 of 72 games during his rookie season with the Bulls.

Williams is one of six All-Rookie players participating in the training camp to help get the NBA stars on the team, including the Bulls Zach LaVine, ready for the international competition and the chase for the Olympic gold medal.

Williams joins Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart of the Pistons, Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington of the Hornets. Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid of the Timberwolves, Darius Garland of the Cavs, Tyrese Haliburton of the Kings, Tyler Herro of the Heat, Dakota Mathias of the 76ers, Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin of the Knicks, Cam Reynolds of the Rockets and veterans John Jenkins, Josh Magette and Keldon Johnson.

Williams again is the youngest, which is familiar for the solidly built 225-pound Bulls rookie who often during the season was the NBA'S youngest player, never started a game in college and obviously with the late season start had no Summer League or much training camp.

Yet, Williams went on to start 71 of the 72 games for the Bulls. He finished third on the team in three-point shooting and second in steals. He averaged 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds on 39 percent three-point shooting in 28 minutes per game. Among rookies, he was 11th in scoring and ninth in rebounding.

Williams, who said he dined Monday night with teammate LaVine to get some advice from a former Select Team player, said he's mostly been working in Chicago since the end of the season with a few weeks "change of scenery" in Los Angeles.

"When I first found out, honestly, I was surprised," Williams acknowledged about the prestigious invite. "I didn't really know much about the Select Team. Of course, you know USA Olympic team. But it's an opportunity. Opportunities, one thing about them they'll pass you by quick if you let it. So just come in here and just be a sponge to anybody and everybody. You have the best of the best here. If they weren't they wouldn't be here whether it's a coach or a nutritionist or anybody who works for USA. They're the best at what they do. Keeping open ears even if the conversation isn't with me. Players, somebody else talking to somebody else. Stepping out of my comfort zone a little bit. Being a little more vocal and being a little bit more interactional. It's an opportunity and I can't let it pass me by."

Patrick Williams' full media call from USA Basketball.

Williams, who was often a reluctant shooter last season trying to work his way in with veteran teammates, said in workouts he's been concentrating on classic NBA offenses to get a head start on next season. He's also scheduled to join a Bulls team in Summer League in August back in Las Vegas.

"Just getting used to pick-and-roll, getting in a lot more actions than I was last year and just being comfortable in those actions knowing I have the skill," Williams said. "I have the size to be able to make plays in those actions whether it's scoring or contributing to a teammate or dumping it off, whatever it is. Just being able to have confidence that I can make plays in whatever actions that I'm in. Just making sure I'm ready, not only for USA Select Team camp, but for the upcoming season and for Summer League. Working on every action that I think I can be in next year. Watching film on it, thinking the game, talking the game and, of course, playing the game.

"(My) rookie season, it was more than I could ever ask for," Williams said. "Kind of thrown into the fire, honestly, just without having the proper introduction to the NBA, just having four preseason games, then right to the regular season. But I wouldn't have it any other way, honestly. It was a challenge, for sure. But I was up for the challenge and I think I handled it pretty well with the help of my teammates and my coaching staff. I kind of know now the game plan, as far as my development, my future. I don't have all the answers yet, but with the help of my coaches we've put a game plan together to get to where I need to get to."

Patrick Williams joins Zach LaVine in representing the Bulls at USA Basketball's training camp in Las Vegas.

That's also someday to play for the Olympic team in search of one of those precious medals. Williams said LaVine gushed about how excited he was to get the USA team invite, providing Williams additional motivation.

"It gets no better than playing against the best in the world," Williams said. "I think I had a stretch there where I guarded LeBron and Giannis and Kawhi Leonard, I think, three games back-to-back. Now I get a chance to do it every day. It's more than just three guys; it's the best in the world. They're all here. So just being a sponge and trying to pick up anything that I can along the way.

"So get better. Not only me, but help the main team get better," said Williams. "Coach said it from Day 1, we're here to do a job. We're here to help the main team get ready. It's a huge opportunity for us. We have a job to do here and, of course, it's a bonus in doing our job we get to get better on the court and off the court as well."

Good for the USA, good for Patrick Williams, good for the Bulls.

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Patrick Williams enters USA Basketball's Training Camp as the youngest player

Zach LaVine always talks about playing in a meaningful game.

He'll get the chance in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo next month.

USA Basketball Monday announced that LaVine officially was selected for one of the coveted 12 spots on the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team. Training camp for the team in the delayed Olympic Games will begin in Las Vegas July 6 with five exhibition games starting July 10. The U.S. team will play its first game in Japan July 25 against France. The medal games are scheduled for August 7.

LaVine joins one of the most talented and veterans USA teams led by Olympic scoring average leader Kevin Durant and fellow former gold medal winners Draymond Green and Kevin Love. The high scoring team also includes Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, Khris Middleton, Jerami Grant, Jrue Holiday and Bam Adebayo.

It's the gold standard of NBA basketball with playing for gold as the goal.

LaVine will join Kevin Durant among other NBA stars in Tokyo for Olympic play.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich makes his Olympic coaching debut to replace retiring Mike Krzyzewski. Popovich's staff includes former Bull Steve Kerr, the Warriors coach, along with former Atlanta coach Lloyd Pierce and Villanova coach Jay Wright. LaVine is making his first USA Basketball appearance. He was a long shot addition just a year ago when he wasn't even included on the 44-player preliminary roster.

But with the postponement of the Olympics for a year due to Covid-19, several players injured in the interim and LaVine's extraordinary 2020-21 season that included his first All-Star selection and moving up to seventh in the NBA in scoring and first in shooting among shooting guards, LaVine's addition apparently became a priority for the staff.

National team managing director Jerry Colangelo, who is overseeing his final USA team since rescuing the program in 2006, indicated that LaVine's development—as well as his enthusiasm for the team—influenced the selection.

"Zach's come a long way in terms of his game," Colangelo said during a Zoom media call Monday. "He's a freak athlete in that sense, capable of going off and capable of putting some big numbers out there. (And) he's full of enthusiasm.

"I remember it wasn't that long ago he and I spoke on the phone," Colangelo recalled. "He almost jumped through the phone he was so excited about the opportunity. And I love that. When you have a few people who maybe didn't expect to be there who are just so exuberant about the opportunity, they add a lot of juice to the whole situation; that's where he falls. I think he'll make a contribution in whatever amount of time he might get. He'll be ready to go. He's going to push some people, and I like that."

It's an exceptional honor for LaVine, 26, in a season in which the 6-5 guard and slam dunk champion made his first All-Star team, though still seeking that first NBA playoff game with the Bulls. Only Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Jimmy Butler won Olympic gold medals while they played for the Bulls. That's the team's goal as Colangelo makes way for Grant Hill to manage the program for the next Olympics.

Zach LaVine soars for a dunk against Memphis

"USA basketball is as strong as it's ever been," said Colangelo. "There's work to be done. I think we've put together a strong team to represent the United States. I think we have a blending of players with international experience, some medal experience and new blood, which is always important. There is one goal in mind: That is to bring back the gold medal."

Colangelo in consultation with the coaching staff selected players, he said, for versatility, athleticism and length. Colangelo, who played basketball for the U. of Illinois and was on the staff of the Bulls expansion team in 1966, said the ability to play multiple position with multiple skills was emphasized for the roster. Plus, the need to bring in so called new blood. "Every team needs some newcomers," he said.

It's a relatively small team with no true big man centers. The inside players are Adebayo, Love and Green, the latter who Colangelo said is highly regarded for his defensively ability against centers. Though the seven-foot Durant also defends inside. Colangelo said Kerr considers Green one of the best defenders of centers in the NBA. Love was a somewhat controversial selection given his history of injuries. Colangelo said Love's experience as a two-time gold medal winner led to his addition. Durant also won gold medals with the 2012 and 2016 teams.

Colangelo acknowledged Booker, Holiday and Middleton could be playing in the NBA Finals literally a few days before the start of the rescheduled games. But he said all were anxious to fly to Tokyo the next day and play even it became a seven-game Finals.

There will be extraordinary restrictions on the team because of the virus lockdown and rules in Japan, where vaccinations are proceeding slowly. Family and friends cannot accompany the players. They'll mostly be together, though Colangelo said they'll pursue some activities for diversion. Colangelo said the USA traveling party was so limited they weren't even allowed to bring Hill. The team leaves Las Vegas July 19 after five games.

The American men will open preliminary round play on July 25 against France and then will play Iran on July 28 and will close out preliminary play on July 31 versus the winner of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Canada. France was 2019 FIBA World Cup bronze medalist. Their roster includes NBA players Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Frank Ntilikina. In addition to host Japan, nations qualified for the Tokyo Olympics men's basketball competition include Argentina, Australia, France, Iran, Nigeria, Spain and the United States. The final four teams will qualify through four tournaments. Six wins are required for the gold medal.

USA Basketball said the U.S. men have collected a medal in all 18 Olympics in which they have competed, including 15 gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals. The American men are 138-5 in Olympic competition. Since NBA players began representing the United States in 1992, the USA is 53-3 in seven Olympics capturing six gold medals and one bronze medal. The USA currently owns a 25-game Olympic win streak that dates back to the bronze medal game of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

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Zach LaVine named to U.S. Olympic team

When Jimmy Butler takes the court for the first time as a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team, he carries on a long history of Bulls stars making an impact on the international scene. From the time of the original Dream Team in 1992 that featured the Pippen/Jordan duo to the numerous players who represented their home countries through the years, international basketball has long featured NBA stars representing their countries at the highest levels.

Butler and the current edition of Team USA come to Chicago on July 29 to take on 2015 FIBA Americas gold medalist Venezuela for an exhibition/pre-Olympic warmup match. Butler is sure to be putting on a show for the home crowd, and Bulls fans will get to see Jimmy team up with the likes of Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Kyrie Irving for the first time. Before Team USA takes the court, see how well you know your U.S. Men’s Olympic Team history – if you know your stuff, you might just win yourself a pair of tickets to the game.

How well do you know your USA basketball Olympics history?

Think you're a gold medalist when it comes to knowing everything about the USA's history in competing in basketball in the Olympics? Take our test and prove it!

Who were the first two players to win an Olympic gold medal and NBA championship in the same year?

Former Bull Toni Kukoc played for Croatia against Team USA in the Gold Medal Game of which Olympics?

Forward Carmelo Anthony will be among those representing Team USA in the Rio Olympics this summer. After this summer’s Games are over, how many Olympics will Carmelo have played in?

Michael Jordan played in two Olympics – can you name the years in which he participated?

What number will Bulls star Jimmy Butler wear on his Team USA jersey this summer?

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childukich

Bulls forward Doug McDermott has been chosen to join 24 other players as part of the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team, USA Basketball announced today. McDermott’s first experience with USA Basketball was in 2011 when he was a part of the U19 World Championship roster, and he has also participated in a National Team Minicamp in 2013 and the Select Team in 2014.

McDermott played in a career-high 81 games for Chicago in 2015-16 with four starts. He averaged 9.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg and shot 45.2 percent from the field in his sophomore season. Additionally, McDermott was second on the team with 110 3-pointers made, and his 3-point field goal percentage of 42.5 was tied with Klay Thompson for fifth in the NBA. He posted his first career 30-point game on Feb. 19 vs. Toronto.

The full roster for the 2016 USA Basketball Select squad includes: Malcolm Brogdon (University of Virginia); Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Detroit Pistons); Willie Cauley-Stein (Sacramento Kings); Kris Dunn (Providence College); Aaron Gordon (Orlando Magic); Jerami Grant (Philadelphia 76ers); Gary Harris (Denver Nuggets); Rodney Hood (Utah Jazz); Brandon Ingram (Duke University); Brice Johnson (University of North Carolina), Stanley Johnson (Detroit Pistons); Zach LaVine (Minnesota Timberwolves); CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers); Doug McDermott (Chicago Bulls); Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets); Jahlil Okafor (Philadelphia 76ers); Jabari Parker (Milwaukee Bucks); Julius Randle (Los Angeles Lakers); D’Angelo Russell (Los Angeles Lakers); Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics); Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers); Denzel Valentine (Michigan State University); Justise Winslow (Miami Heat) and Cody Zeller (Charlotte Hornets).

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will oversee the Select Team and Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka and Villanova University head coach Jay Wright will serve as assistant coaches.

Members of the USA Select Team will train daily with the USA National Team from July 18-21 (noon - 2 p.m. PDT) at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center. All practices are closed to the public.

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Doug McDermott named to USA Basketball Men's Select Team

Jimmy Butler has been named as one of the 30 finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball roster, it was announced today by USA Basketball.

Butler has averaged 22.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.79 steals in 38.2 minutes per game this season. Butler has led the Bulls in scoring 22 times this year and in assists 12 times. 

In addition to Butler, the list of finalists includes LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs); Anthony; Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors); Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards); Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies);DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); Rudy Gay (Sacramento Kings); Paul George (Indiana Pacers); Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Houston Rockets); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz); Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets); Andre Iguodala (Golden State Warriors); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers);Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs); Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors); John Wall (Washington Wizards); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).

Again leading the 2016 USA coaching staff is Duke University's Naismith Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Serving as USA assistant coaches are Jim Boeheim (Syracuse University), Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder).

The U.S. Olympic team will attempt to win its third consecutive gold medal this summer in Rio de Janeiro. The official 12-member roster will be announced later this year.

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Jimmy Butler among finalists for 2016 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball team

And so ends the NBA’s version of sleep away camp as USA Basketball Thursday concluded its brief invitational camp for the 2016 Olympics with an All-Star game like dunk fest exhibition won by the “white” team coached by a sedentary Tom Thibodeau, 134-128.

The exceptionally relaxed camp was more like a pre-school playground attendance drill with players shooting around for two days and then most heading home. So few of the 2016 hopefuls, including the Bulls’ Jimmy Butler, stayed around that USA Basketball had to invite several NBA players from the area and not involved in USA Basketball, like Arron Afflalo and Amir Johnson, to have enough for a game, such as it was.

But it does mark the end of the NBA’s long summer of free agency, summer leagues, the release of the 2015-16 schedule and the first auditions for USA Basketball, how limited that will be. Many of the top players now take off for shoe sponsor trips overseas as there are basically no more NBA activities until the start of training camps in late September and early October.

The season then opens Oct. 27 with the Bulls featured hosting the Eastern Conference favorite Cleveland Cavaliers.

As wagering is legal here in Las Vegas—other than on FanDuel–where USA Basketball was training at UNLV, the sports books have the Cavs not only favorites to win the Eastern Conference but the NBA title.

The Cavs were listed at the Venetian/Palazzo at 11/5 to win the title followed by the defending champion Warriors at 5/1, the Spurs at 16/5 and then the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder at 8/1. The Bulls were sixth at 13/1.

In the Eastern Conference, the Cavs were 2/5 favorites followed by the Bulls at 7/1, the Miami Heat at 10/1 and the Atlanta Hawks at 12/1.

Not so fast, said Michael Carter-Williams, who had 13 points in the USA game and engaged in a fan pleasing back and forth with Orlando’s Victor Oladipo. The Bucks were a surprisingly tough first round playoff opponent for the Bulls last April, and Milwaukee effectively is adding two starters in injured Jabari Parker and Detroit Pistons’ big man Greg Monroe to make them a threat in the conference.

“We’re young, but we had some great playoff experience against the Bulls and learned a lot,” said Carter-Williams late Thursday after the USA game. “We’ve got new guys coming, Jabari coming back. We do have a good core and we can’t wait to get out there and compete. Everything is starting to come together for Milwaukee, the team, the coach and now the arena; things are going pretty well.”

Before coaching his team with fellow USA assistant Monty Williams coaching the opponent, Thibodeau said wins are going to be much more difficult to come by in the Eastern Conference. While the consensus backed up by the Las Vegas odds has Miami and Atlanta top four contenders, Thibodeau said to watch out for the Indiana Pacers. Thibodeau, who was untypically relaxed and almost vegetating on the bench in Thursday’s game, said a perimeter with Monta Ellis, Rodney Stuckey and George Hill will be formidable, especially with Paul George returning and playing more power forward.

George was seriously injured in this scrimmage last year. So he was told to skip the game by chairman Jerry Colangelo. As a result, the game was played without defense until the last few minutes and the basket stanchions, where George was caught last year, were moved back.

Thibodeau also said to watch out for the Detroit Pistons. Their center, Andre Drummond, led both teams Thursday with 27 points and 16 rebounds and Thibodeau said Drummond was impressive even in the light workouts Tuesday and Wednesday. Plus, Orlando’s Oladipo was in many respects the perimeter star of Thursday’s game with 25 points, a game high four three pointers and a spectacular running one handed dunk over Carter-Williams. With Scott Skiles as new coach, Thibodeau says Orlando will be a different team.

There aren’t going to be sub-.500 playoff teams from the Eastern Conference this season. Teams like the Bulls, Heat and Hawks, Thibodeau warned, better watch the rear while they are looking up at the Cavs. To paraphrase Satchel Paige, perhaps you better look back because they are gaining on you.

It’s going to make for an intriguing Eastern Conference race, though the race to the roster for USA Basketball in Rio de Janeiro next summer may not be as complicated.

Chairman Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski in what the Duke coach said will be his last tournament coaching USA Basketball, have talked about the depth of talent on the roster of 34 at this week’s camp and how difficult the selection process will be. There isn’t going to be another such camp. The executive staff and coaches led by Colangelo will pick the 12 players.

And while Colangelo and Krzyzewski gave lip service to the importance of role players with past teams, like Andre Iguodala and Tayshaun Prince, this is looking more like an effort to produce a Dream Team II.

After Thursday’s game, Colangelo predicted, “We are going to have a very special team (in 2016). The talent pool is as good as ever.” Colangelo also cracked the door back open for Derrick Rose if Rose wants to play, which remains uncertain. Colangelo said earlier this week anyone not attending the camp this week would not be considered for next summer’s team. But Colangelo subsequently said he’s talked to Kobe Bryant and said it would be a fitting conclusion to Bryant’s NBA career to win a gold medal in 2016. Bryant was not at the camp, like Rose.

Colangelo said he was disappointed Rose did not attend, though there is an easy explanation, if needed, given Rose’s previous injuries and need to keep working out harder than they were doing in Las Vegas. Colangelo said after the game when asked about Bryant and Rose that he doesn’t believe in ever closing the door completely on anyone or anything.

These things have a way of changing because if you follow the ball and concentrate on basketball you often are missing the point with USA Basketball. It’s a business commitment as much as a sports competition, including with the players’ endorsers. Michael Jordan was absolutely adamant in numerous statements in 1991 after the Bulls first title and controversies about his gambling arose about not playing for the 1992 team that became known as the Dream Team. It’s clear Nike interceded and there obviously was no Dream Team without Michael Jordan.

It seems clear that this coming team is being loaded up with as much star power as possible, and Colangelo implied that in his post game remarks Thursday. With Krzyzewski’s farewell, this is looking more like an effort to make this the biggest star based team since 1992.

It’s why Colangelo basically has had an open door to LeBron James to play in 2016 whether he attended here or not.

If Rose, say, were to return to MVP form and be one of the top five in the voting and given his long term commitment with Adidas, it would be difficult to keep him off the team. So more than any tryout camp, this coming season and who stars will more likely determine USA’s 2016 team.

USA Basketball is on a 63-game winning streak in world competition and 75-1 overall since Colangelo and Krzyzewski partnered to run the program.

Colangelo has noted how James and Carmelo Anthony could set a record by playing in a fourth Olympics (two golds and a bronze in 2004). Figure both will be on the team. Though USA Basketball likes to establish something of a feeder system with some young players on the team, it seems apparent this coming team will primarily be a veteran group.

They are currently the most marketable stars in the NBA.

If Paul George is healthy and back to form, perhaps add him. Which makes 11.

Would LeBron urge Colangelo to add Dwyane Wade to complete the offseason banana boat buddies of he, Paul, Anthony and Wade? What LeBron wants, LeBron gets as the league’s biggest star. After all, part of Jordan’s deal with the Dream Team was to exclude Isiah Thomas from the team despite Thomas then being one of the league’s elite players and better than half the players on the team. And time for golf every day.

They’ll need someone to do some dirty work rebounding, so perhaps Dwight Howard for center since Davis can also play center, especially in international play. That’s already one over at 13. There always is an injury or two. But if Rose explodes again there’d likely be an outcry for him. After all, even with all his injuries, Rose’s jersey has remained among the top selling.

This past season after barely playing for three years, Rose’s jersey sales still ranked fifth among all NBA players behind James, Curry, Bryant and Durant. Plus, Bulls team merchandise ranked No. 1 in the league with the Cavs second and Warriors third. The Lakers were fourth and Thunder fifth. Having no Bulls player on the team might not be good for business. Of course, Butler could emerge and be that player with another starring season.

USA Basketball is as much a worldwide business enterprise as much as an impressive basketball organization. Rose is leaving next week for a shoe company trip to China, where he is one of the most popular players from the NBA and draws among the biggest crowds along with James and Bryant. The NBA remains ever anxious to be impressive in the Asian markets.

This camp was a nice respite for a few days. But the real competition for team spots will occur during the season and then in the playoffs. It’s never easy and will be less so this season in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, and there’s plenty to play for. Everyone report back in six weeks. It starts again.

usa-basketball-ends-2015-16-speculation-begins

USA Basketball ends; 2015-16 speculation begins

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