Team USA to train for Olympics at UNLV
As the United States men's basketball team prepares to defend its gold medal at this summer's London Olympics, it will spend part of its time practicing in luxury.
USA Basketball announced Friday the national team will open its pre-Olympic training camp July 6 to 11 at UNLV's new Mendenhall Center, a vast upgrade from previous camps at Valley High School.
The camp, Team USA's sixth in Las Vegas, will conclude with an exhibition game against the Dominican Republic on July 12 at the Thomas & Mack Center. It will be the first of five tuneups for coach Mike Krzyzewski's squad.
Team USA also will face Brazil on July 16 in Washington, D.C.; Great Britain on July 19 in Manchester, England; Argentina on July 22 in Barcelona; and Spain on July 24 in Barcelona.
Ticket information for the Las Vegas game will be announced in late April. Practices will be closed to the public.
"We have an exciting tour schedule, which we believe will help get our team as best prepared as possible for the summer," said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball's chairman and national team managing director.
Colangelo said Team USA again will train in Las Vegas against a team of young NBA players. That Select team has not been announced, but Jeremy Lin, the New York Knicks' point guard who has captured the imagination of fans worldwide, is under consideration.
The 20 invitees to Team USA announced last month included 2008 Olympic gold medalists Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh. Also invited: Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose, Tyson Chandler, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Lamar Odom, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge and Chauncey Billups.
The team's 12-man Olympic roster is expected to be announced in late May. The final roster must be submitted by June 18 to FIBA, the world governing body of basketball.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.
