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DURHAM -- Having already secured the return of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski after his gold medal success in the 2008 Olympics, USA Basketball revealed Wednesday that the large majority of the players who steered that team will return for another run.
The organization named 27 players who have agreed to be a part of the 2010-12 USA Men's National Team. The list includes nine of the 12 players on the 2008 Olympic team, highlighted by starters Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard as well as reserve Dwayne Wade -- the leading scorer in the Olympics.
Gone are starting point guard Jason Kidd and reserves Tayshaun Prince and Michael Redd. But back in the mix are point guard Chauncey Billups and post player Amar'e Stoudemire, likely Olympians in 2008 who pulled out before the Beijing games.
Also back are 2008 Olympic vets Chris Paul, Chris Bosh and Deron Williams, as well as Carlos Boozer, a former Duke standout.
"I think continuity is an important part of building a program," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said. "And so when you look at what was accomplished and the effort that was put forth and the unity and camaraderie that developed, it was a truly a team effort in every respect.
"If you can keep something going like that, you do [that]. The reason they're back is because they're deserving of being back."
Krzyzewski announced in July that he would be back, and this is the first major step in his second tour of duty. The next steps come over the summer, when the pool of players will attend mini-camps in July and August, out of which a 12-member roster will be picked to compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Men beginning Aug. 28 in Turkey.
The winner of the 24-country tournament will earn a berth into the 2012 Olympics in London. Krzyzewski came up short in the 2006 World Championships, settling for a bronze medal before rolling to the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship to qualify for the Olympics.
"We believe it's extremely important," Krzyzewski said. "The world looks at it as the world championships. We were kidding about it during the Olympics, saying they should call it the World Cup for basketball, and it would get even more significance."
Half of the 12 players from the 2006 World Championships aren't on the 27-player list, including three with local ties -- former Duke players Shane Battier and Elton Brand and former UNC player Antawn Jamison.
The list does, however, again include Boozer, the returning Olympian who had the least statistical impact on the gold medal run.
"He didn't get a lot of time on the Olympic team this past run, but he brought a lot of experience to the table," Colangelo said. "He's a very dependable guy. We know his strengths in terms of his game -- his inside presence, his size, rebounding, blocked shots.
"There's a role for Carlos Boozer just playing his game, and he gets the team concept in spades."
Krzyzewski said he thought the pool of talent had improved right along with the interest level since he and Colangelo announced a 23-player group in 2006 that kicked off USA Basketball's new approach to building a program rather just simply selecting a roster.
Wednesday's list included seven young players -- Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose among them -- who weren't on the '06 list but who scrimmaged against the Olympic team as members of the 2008 USA Basketball Select Team. It also included 11 young players, those seven plus four more, who took part in a mini-camp last summer.
"I think we're seeing the benefits of having not just a World Championship team or an Olympic team but also these other teams that give everybody a chance to be a part of USA Basketball," Krzyzewski said. "I think we've taken a step up from the pool we had in the last quad.
"It's exciting to see this many people be interested in being a part of the program."
