Injury-hit US finalizes Olympic squad

LeBron James and Kobe Bryant to lead another star-studded cast to the 2012 Games

With LeBron James and Kobe Bryant already among the NBA stars on board for a bid for a second straight gold, USA Basketball finalized its 12-man squad for the London Olympics on Saturday. James, coming off his first NBA title with Miami, and Bryant are joined by 2008 gold medal-winning teammates Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Deron Williams on the squad again guided by Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski.

NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook, who lost to Miami in the NBA Finals, are also joined by 2010 world championship teammates Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love, two vital big men for the Americans.

With those nine in place, US officials had the task of selecting the last three pieces of the puzzle - filling out the squad on Saturday with Blake Griffin, Andre Iguodala and James Harden.

"We projected we would have difficulty getting down to a roster of 12, regardless of the number of injuries that have taken place, because they are such an outstanding group of people and athletes," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said.

"The final selections keep us in concert with our game plan to have athleticism, versatility and strong depth on our roster. I think our final roster epitomizes all of that."

Missing out were Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay and top draft selection Anthony Davis of New Orleans.

Krzyzewski echoed Colangelo's comments on the difficulty of selecting the team, despite injuries that ruled out such NBA stars as center Dwight Howard, guards Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade, and forward Chris Bosh.

Griffin, slowed by a knee injury in the NBA playoffs, demonstrated his return to health with a dunking display after Saturday's practice.

Harden, who earned the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award as top reserve, gives the US a scoring threat off the bench while Iguodala brings a strong defensive presence.

The Americans remain short-handed at center, where Howard started in 2008 with Bosh as his back-up.

With Chandler the only true center remaining, some less experienced players will be called on at the position.

Colangelo alluded to the size disadvantage the Americans are expected to face when he noted that Griffin's size as well as his talent was a factor in his selection.

"He brings bulk, and he's done well in the NBA guarding big centers," Colangelo said.

The US training camp in Las Vegas will run through on Thursday, ending with a game against the Dominican Republic. The Americans then train for three days in Washington before facing Brazil and then train two days in Manchester, England, before taking on the British Olympic squad.

Spain lost in the Beijing Olympic final but will feature Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka, the NBA's top shot blocker each of the past two seasons, and a host of NBA talent, including 2.13m Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol.

"My expectations are high," Gasol said. "My teammates and I will fight for the gold medal. I think that we can win the tournament. We have a lot of talent and everyone will be very motivated to give it their all on the court.

"Winning a gold medal at the Olympics would be a huge satisfaction. It would be incredible for Spain.

"We're afraid of no one."

France, which lost to the Americans in the 2000 Olympic final, has such NBA talent as guard Tony Parker and center Joakim Noah.

"Playing in London will be a dream come true," Noah said. "We will fight for a medal."

France also pushed Spain in last year's EuroBasket final in Lithuania.

"It would be a huge mistake for everyone to consider US and Spain as the only contenders for the gold medal," Gasol said.

Agence France-Presse