United States names Olympic basketball roster
Raptors guards DeRozan, Lowry among 12 American players
Toronto's two All-Star guards will be key contributors on the United States' Olympic basketball team.
The U.S. has selected its 12-player roster, including DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, that will try to win the Americans' third straight Olympic basketball gold medal.
Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony are the only players with Olympic experience after a number of stars, including LeBron James, decided to not go to Rio.
Also chosen Monday for the team were:
- Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors)
- Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Paul George (Indiana Pacers)
- Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls)
- DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings)
- DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers)
Irving was the MVP of the 2014 Basketball World Cup on a U.S. team that included Thompson, Cousins and DeRozan and easily won gold.
Winning without Curry, LeBron
The Americans should roll into Rio as the favourites. Yet they won't look as imposing as expected after the withdrawals of Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and James Harden.
So the Americans will look to Anthony, who becomes the first U.S. men's basketball player to appear in four Olympics, and Durant, who set a U.S. record by averaging 19.5 points per game in London.
The final and perhaps biggest blow was James, who would have joined Anthony with a fourth selection but pulled out last week after leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA championship.
The heaviest losses came at the point guard spot, where Curry passed on making his Olympic debut after knee and ankle injuries in the playoffs. Former Olympians Paul and Westbrook pulled out and Washington's John Wall was injured. What was a position of strength became so depleted that Lowry was added last week even though he wasn't even a member of the pool.
The Americans will open training camp in Las Vegas on July 18 and play five exhibition games before traveling to Rio.