USA’s rising stars look to end 16-year drought

The United States of America will play the 2010 FIBA World Championship without any of the players who led them to a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics two years ago. But despite the change in personnel, the objective stays the same for head coach Mike Krzyzewski: help the country to its first World Championship title since 1994.

Since 1992, the United States of America have claimed gold medals in 10 of 13 major international basketball competitions. In 2008, the famous “Redeem Team” took Beijing and the Olympic Games by storm. Will it be the same in the World Championships? The answer to that question is not that simple.

This summer, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh were focused on their NBA free agent status and will be staying at home. After playing in three straight NBA Finals, an injured Kobe Bryant (broken finger, right knee injury) will take the entire summer to recover. For various reasons, other former Olympians such as Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul will not go to Turkey. Therefore, USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski will be counting on a new and exciting generation of rising stars (Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Andre Iguodala) and some savvy veterans (Chauncey Billups and Lamar Odom) to get the job done in Istanbul.

“I'm predicting that we would have a lot of young guys”, said USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo. “But we have a very deep roster. We will see who shows up. There will be a number of them who might not play because of free agency and personal issues. There could be five or six from the Olympic team that won't be there. We're prepared for that.”

Actually, all eight core members of the team that won a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics have informed USA Basketball they have decided to skip this summer’s tournament in Turkey. Despite these absences, coach K is still truly optimistic. “I'm really excited about the players who were selected and who committed to be a part of the 2010-12 USA National Team.”

In 2005, Team USA initiated its historic men’s National Team programme and in 2008 it culminated with a gold medal run in Beijing, the USA’s first gold in a major international competition since 2000.

Between 2006 and 2008, the USA compiled an unbelievable and rather striking 36-1 overall record. Yet, the USA finished only third in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan and have not won the event since 1994 in Toronto.

Despite this, USA National Teams have compiled an overall 105-27 record in FIBA World Championship history and had mixed results in the competition. The Americans have won 10 medals in all – three gold (1954, 1986 and 1994), three silver (1950, 1959 and 1982) and four bronze (1974, 1990, 1998 and 2006).

This summer, Jerry Colangelo believes Team USA has to show respect by taking the event more seriously than they have in the past. “We know that this is the most important basketball competition in international basketball and it needs to be respected accordingly.”

Despite being without their biggest stars, the USA still have a long and multi-talented core of players. Durant is a former NBA Rookie of the Year and won the league’s scoring title last year. Rose is also a recipient of the Rookie of the Year award and, like Durant, a superstar in the making. Krzyzewski will also have some valuable experience and proven winners at his disposal with former NBA champion and Finals MVP Billups, Boston Celtics star guard Rajon Rondo as well as versatile forward Odom, who has helped the Los Angeles Lakers to consecutive championships these past two years.

Other national teams like Spain will have to think long and hard about how they are going to get more size and athleticism to compete against some of the best players from the NBA. If the USA are able to win this year, they will obtain a free ticket for the London Olympics in 2012. That would mean no qualifying round but just a light training camp in the summer of 2011.

“This competition is important,” Colangelo added. “This is another important step in the reassembling of the USA National Team for the next three years of competitions.”

In 1992, Team USA was called the Dream Team. The 2002 team was a disaster and 2008 was all about redemption. However, one question remains for this superstar’s team: What will they call themselves this summer?