USA Names Final Roster for 2012 London Olympics

USA Basketball finally named their final roster that will be competing in the 2012 London Olympics in which they will be the heavy-favorite because of their talent and being the defending champions.

After naming nine shoe-ins earlier last week, USA opted to allot the three remaining roster spots to Los Angeles Clippers superstar Blake Griffin, Oklahoma City Thunder spitfire James Harden, and Philadelphia 76ers high-flyer Andre Iguodala.

Griffin, Harden, and Iguodala join LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Tyson Chandler in USA squad, who are expected to dominate the field in London.

Eric Gordon and Rudy Gay, who were both part of the squad that competed and ruled the 2010 World Basketball Championship, were the final cut along with Anthony Davis, who was not in full strength in training camp due to a severely sprained ankle.

“It was very difficult,” USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski said on deciding for the final roster. “All the guys played so well. A lot them built up equity, being a world champion in Istanbul. Eric Gordon and Rudy Gay were on our world championship team.”

Despite several key injuries that sidelined superstars Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Derrick Rose, who are almost shoe-ins, Kryzewski believes that they have assembled a very competitive and talented squad.

“Overall, I thought USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and our staff took into account all our needs,” Krzyzewski said. “We’re definitely confident with the players we have chosen that can fill the need to defending the post, rebounding, and we create match-up problems for other teams trying to compete against us.”

USA will compete in Group A where they will go up against France, Tunisia, Argentina, and two more qualifiers from the ongoing 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Caracas, Venezuela.

USA Men’s Basketball Roster for the 2012 London Olympics

• LeBron James
• Kobe Bryant
• Carmelo Anthony
• Chris Paul
• Deron Williams
• Kevin Durant
• Russell Westbrook
• Kevin Love
• Tyson Chandler
• Blake Griffin
• James Harden
• Andre Iguodala