USA Basketball names 15 finalists for 2010 World Championship squad

Colorado Springs, CO (Sports Network) - USA Basketball announced Wednesday the 15 finalists for its 2010 USA World Championship Team.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo selected the finalists from a group that assembled in Las Vegas earlier this month to open training for the 2010 FIBA World Championship, which will be held August 28 through September 12 in Turkey.

The finalists include: Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Jeff Green (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).

The team will reassemble August 9 in New York City and train there from August 10-16. The team will need to be further narrowed to 12 prior to the start of the competition.

"We had an outstanding week of training camp in Las Vegas and it is apparent we have a group of guys that are very focused, committed, and desirous of playing for USA Basketball. The identity of the team is still evolving, but it is pretty obvious we're going to be very athletic; we're going to be very strong in the back court; we think our shooting ability is underestimated," stated Colangelo.

"We have much more to do in New York and in our upcoming exhibition games as we proceed toward Turkey, but we're excited and enthusiastic about our chances."

The 2010-12 USA National Team coaching staff is led by Duke's Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, while Syracuse's Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan are assistants.