Melo Makes The Team - And Is Named A Captain
8/17/2006 9:10:56 AM | Men's Basketball
SEOUL, Korea -- USA Basketball Senior National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo and USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced the official 12 player roster for the USA World Championship Team. The USA opens FIBA World Championship preliminary group play on Aug. 19 against Puerto Rico in Sapporo, Japan. Preliminary play continues through Aug. 24, with the U.S. playing a total of five games over the six days.
Included in the roster of 12 is former Syracuse All-America Carmelo Anthony. The 2002-03 BIG EAST Conference Rookie of the Year, Anthony led the Orange to the 2003 NCAA Championship.
"I am excited," said Anthony. "It's an honor to be part of this once again. It's like a fresh start, a second chance. You don't get too many second chances in life and I want to take full advantage of this one."
Anthony was also a member of the 2004 USA squad that earned a bronze medal.
Also selected for the 2006 USA Basketball Men's World Championship Team were: Shane Battier (Houston Rockets); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Chris Paul (New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets); and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).
Krzyzewski is serving as head coach of the USA Senior Team and is being assisted by Syracuse University (N.Y.) and Hall of Fame mentor Jim Boeheim, Phoenix Suns head mentor Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.
Krzyzewski also named Anthony, LeBron James and Wade captains of the 2006 USA World Championship Team.
"From the very start they have asserted themselves and showed leadership through how hard they worked, their cooperation and the fact that they wanted to be like everyone else," noted Krzyzewski. "They didn't come in as stars, they came in as members of the team. Everyone looks up to them and they look up to them even more now because they have set such a good example. It was a pretty easy decision to select those three guys."
"It was the coaches' decision. We were thinking of having game captains but it became obvious to us that this was the way to go."
In the USA's five pre-World Championship training exhibition games, the trio ranked as the team's top three scorers. Anthony averaged a team best 16.8 ppg. during the tour, James posted 15.8 ppg., while Wade scored 12.2 ppg. and handed out 4.0 assists.
"We, as in myself, LeBron and Dwyane, are honored. We're experienced, we know what we have to do to succeed. I know it means more responsibilities, so we have to go out there and take care of business on and off the court," said Anthony.
"This means a lot to be captain with two good friends of mine. To not have had the best experience in 2004 and to now be a captain on the 2006 World Championship team, well, this means a lot," stated James. "I'm very excited about being a captain because I am a leader. It's a big responsibility for us three being captains and going out and representing our country in the right way. You've got to show leadership on the court and off the court and you've got to show responsibility. We have to approach the game the right way and take care of business."
"It's great to be captain of such a prestigious USA Basketball team that has a lot of older guys who you respect. To be one of the young guys with LeBron and Carmelo, and for us to be named captains and to help lead the way means a lot to us. Being a captain means being a leader at all times, when things are great and when things are bad - always being a leader," said Wade.
The USA team is scheduled to train Aug. 17 and 18 in Sapporo, Japan, where it will play its preliminary group games of the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Men from Aug. 19-24.
Joining the US in preliminary Group D are China (Asia Zone champion and ranked #14), Italy (wild card qualifier and ranked #6), Puerto Rico (wild card qualifier and ranked #11), Senegal (Africa Zone runner-up and ranked #30) and Slovenia (European zone sixth place finisher and ranked #22).
All five of the USA's preliminary group game in the World Championship will be televised live by ESPN2.
