U.S. builds its Olympic Dream Team

NEW YORK — This U.S. basketball team might be even better than the last two that won gold medals.

“This will be the most talented of the three teams that I’ve had the opportunity to coach,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said Monday during a conference call.

The Americans announced the 20 players who will be candidates for the London Games, adding Blake Griffin of the Clippers and Lamarcus Aldridge of Portland to the 18 holdovers from either the 2008 Olympics or 2010 world championship who have said they wish to be considered again.

The 12-man roster and alternates for the Olympics will be chosen from the new player pool in June.

Returning from the team that won gold in Beijing are: Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Back from the reigning world champions are: Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Tyson Chandler, Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Chauncey Billups, Russell Westbrook and Andre Iguodala.

“I like the fact that we have a roster full of guys who’ve been champions, either in the Olympics or world championships, and guys who are excited to play,” Krzyzewski said.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo had planned to add Griffin to the national team roster in 2009, but he was hurt shortly after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick and those plans were scrapped. Aldridge was on the national team roster but withdrew from consideration for the 2010 worlds for personal reasons.

But both have a shot now if the Americans decide to bolster the frontcourt on a roster loaded with point guards and wing players. And it’s an experienced group, with Anthony playing in 59 games for the U.S. and James 55.

“To be on that list, I’m honoured again, to be able to represent my country at the highest level. I mean, it’s an unbelievable class. We’ve got an unbelievable group coming in and I’m looking forward to it,” James said.

The final roster of 12 players and six alternates is due June 18, before the NBA finals will be completed in this lockout-delayed season, so there will be no time for a tryout camp. But USA Basketball needed to submit the list of all candidates by the end of this month so they could be entered in the drugtesting program.

The Americans will have to decide how many point guards to keep from a list that includes Rose, the NBA MVP, Paul; Williams, Westbrook and Billups — though he started at shooting guard in Istanbul, as he does now playing alongside Paul on the Clippers.