Starry trio relishing roles

They are three immense talents. But there is only one basketball.

So the question is: Can Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony master the concept of sharing and play nice together?

It sounds more like a dilemma for kindergartners than NBA superstars. But having the three get along as U.S. basketball teammates could have been a problem.

It hasn't, said U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski, whose team opens the FIBA Americas Championship against Venezuela on Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The star trio has been unselfish almost to a fault, Krzyzewski said.

Each has been willing to sacrifice parts of his individual game for the good of the team. The three stars have been asked to fill somewhat different roles than with their NBA teams but said the adjustment has been easy.

"It's not that tricky at all," said Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers All-Star guard who is playing for his country for the first time. "You've got to come in with an open mind, and whatever they need you to do, you do it.

"For me, it's a chance to catch and shoot, something I don't get to do much with the Lakers. I can develop another part of my game, which to me, is exciting."

James said he, too, has enjoyed the opportunity to change roles. Unlike with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where his scoring is so vital to the team's success, he can play an all-around game with Team USA and still be an impact player.

"I get to do things here that I can't do with my team," he said. "Here, I can be more of a facilitator. I don't have to be the main scorer. I can rebound, push the ball to the other guys and run in the open court. Plus, we have so many great players here, it's easy to adjust what you do to fit in. I love it."

Anthony and James both played for the national team last year, and they welcomed the addition of Bryant, even if it means fewer scoring chances for them.

"Nobody's worried about who's shooting," Anthony said. "You've got the shot, you take it.

"What Kobe's added to the team is another leader. Everybody respects him and his game. We've brought him into the family."

Bryant is more than glad to be part of the team.

"It's fun," he said. "You see the kind of skill that's out here, you appreciate it even more. It's like a group of superheroes. Each has a special skill and individual strength."

Krzyzewski said he didn't have to lecture the players about sharing the ball and working together; that was understood coming in.

"They've been great, tremendous," Krzyzewski said. "They've been very receptive, and they work well together."

One of Krzyzewski's goals entering training camp at Valley High School was to figure out a way to maximize the talents of Bryant, James and Anthony when they're together on the floor.

The coach might have hit on the right combination with Bryant alongside point guard Jason Kidd in the backcourt, James playing the wing and Anthony at power forward.

"We've got some flexibility there," Krzyzewski said. "Carmelo can play either forward spot, and that's big for us. We can use him a lot of different ways. We can get LeBron to drive the ball more, and, with Jason getting the other guys the ball, we can attack from virtually anywhere and make good use of Kobe."

But if things get tight at the end of a game, who will the American squad turn to?

"Whoever has the best shot," James said. "It doesn't matter if it's me, 'Melo, Kobe, Jason, whoever. We trust each other and have confidence in each other to take the shot and make it."