Melo, KD Named USA Basketball Co-Male Athlete Of The Year
12/7/2016 1:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
This is the third such honor for Anthony, the former Syracuse All-American, and the second for Durant.
"It is an incredible honor to represent the USA at the Olympics, and to be given this award for the third time, it's just humbling," Anthony said. "Without Kevin Durant, the rest of my teammates and an incredibly dedicated coaching staff, earning such a prestigious award like this would not be possible."
"It's a tremendous honor," Durant said. "I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to play for my country, and I tried to go out there and play as hard as I could and represent as much as I can. I'm grateful that I played with such great teammates and a great staff that were able to help me get this award."
Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse's Jim Boeheim were both on the Team USA coaching staff for the third Olympic cycle with Krzyzewski the head coach and Boeheim an assistant. Tom Thibodeau (head coach, Minnesota Timberwolves) and Monty Williams (former New Orleans Pelicans head coach)
At the 2016 Olympics, both players started in all eight games to help the USA to an 8-0 record and a gold medal from Aug. 6-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Anthony averaged a team second-best 12.1 points to go with 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.3 minutes per game, while Durant averaged a team-leading 19.4 ppg. to go with 5.0 rpg. and 3.5 apg. in 28.6 mpg.
"The leadership of Carmelo and Kevin on the 2016 team was crucial and obvious to anyone who watched the team play or interact, " said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO/Executive Director. "Both players played a vital rose in leading our team to gold, and we are grateful for their dedication and commitment."
This year marks the 37th time USA Basketball has presented its Male Athlete of the Year award, which was established in 1980 to recognize a USA Basketball athlete who, during the year of the award, made a significant impact on the success of his team's performance.
"Along with their amazing talent, Carmelo and Kevin brought experience and veteran steadiness to a team that had 10 first-time Olympians on it," said Mike Krzyzewski, USA Men's National Team and Duke University head coach, as well as the 2016 USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the Year. "Their leadership, often by example, and ability to handle difficult situations professionally and effectively were huge assets to the 2016 USA Basketball National Team. Their games translate very well to international basketball, and their numbers reflect that. I greatly admire both of these men - first as immensely talented basketball players, but even more as better people who are tremendous role models in our sport."
Anthony became USA Basketball's first four-time men's Olympian, the USA's first four-time men's medalist and the world's first men's player to win three gold medals.
At the 2016 Olympics, he shot 39.3 percent from the field (33-84 FGs), 40.0 percent from 3-point (18-45 3pt FGs) and 61.9 percent from the line (13-21 FTs).
His 31 points against Australia on Aug. 10 tied for the second-highest, single-game output in the U.S. men's Olympic record book, and his 15 3-point attempts in that game set a U.S. men's record.
Durant is one of 19 two-time U.S. men's Olympians and one of 17 to win two gold medals.
At the 2016 Olympics, he shot 57.8 percent from the field (52-90 FGs), 58.1 percent from 3-point (25-43 3pt FGs) and 81.3 percent from the line (26-32 FTs).
Durant recorded the tournament's best single-game shooting percentage by going 6-of-6 from the field against France on Aug. 14.
