VIDEO: DeShawn Stevenson

Around The Net

From the Washington Post…
“Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is frustrated about not being on the U.S. national team playing in the FIBA World Championship and said he believes he was not given a fair tryout.

Arenas emphasized that he hopes to remain part of the national program and play in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.”

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VIDEO: Caron Butler

FIBA World Championships Begin Saturday;
Team USA Set for Official Games

After weeks of training, USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team is set to accomplish what casual observers feel is a forgone conclusion: not just win, but cruise to the Gold at the FIBA World Championships and restore Team USA’s dominance in international competition.

But while the team is unquestionably the most talented squad in the tournament, the same could be said of the USA Basketball teams that competed in the World Championships in 2002 (sixth place) and the 2004 Olympics (third place). (History Note: The 1998 USA Team finished third in the World Championships. Although a young Brad Miller and Mateen Cleaves were on that squad, this team was made up mostly of CBA players, NBA hopefuls and other journey men as the league was in the midst of a lockout. This group actually overachieved by winning the bronze).

USA Today’s David DuPress has a great feature in today’s issue about the state of USA Basketball as they prepare to play Puerto Rico (1 am ET, ESPN2) in opening round action. Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post and Tom Knott of the Washington Times both provide their thoughts on the team. And NBA.com spoke with six international basketball experts to get their thoughts and predictions.

What are your thoughts Team USA and their continuing journey? Do you think the games are a formality, or do you see a repeat of the last two international competitions? For you East Coast fans, will you stay up to watch the games or will the online recaps satisfy your summer hoops void?

Team USA 2006 Finalized; Jamison Among Players Named

USA Basketball Senior National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo and USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced Wednesday the official 12 player roster for the USA World Championship Team. The USA opens FIBA World Championship preliminary group play on Aug. 19 against Puerto Rico in Sapporo, Japan. Preliminary play continues through Aug. 24, with the U.S. playing a total of five games over the six days.

“It’s been unbelievable,” said Jamison of his experience with the team. “It’s been fun to not only deal with these guys on the court but the different personalities off the court — and to go out there and be dominant in the way we have been is definitely fun and something I haven’t experienced in a while.”

Jamison, who tied Carmelo Anthony for the team lead in three-pointers made (both shot 8-for-17, .471), averaged 9.6 points (tied for fourth) and shot .548 from the field.

Jamison will join Wizards teammates Peter John Ramos (Puerto Rico) and Darius Songaila (Lithuania) this weekend in Japan, where the World Championships will tip-off Saturday (Complete Schedule).

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