DeMarcus Cousins And Rudy Gay Among Finalists For 2016 U.S. Olympic Team
The Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay are two of the 30 finalists named for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team. The final twelve man roster will be announced later this year.
Cousins and Gay were both members of the gold medal USA World Cup Team that finished 9-0 in Spain in 2014.
The 28 other finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team are:
"LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs); Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors); Bradley Beal(Washington Wizards); Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls); Mike Conley(Memphis Grizzlies); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder);Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); Paul George (Indiana Pacers);Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Houston Rockets); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz); Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets); Andre Iguodala (Golden State Warriors); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs); Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors); John Wall(Washington Wizards); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)."
It won’t be easy for Cousins or Gay to make the team that will represent the U.S. in Rio De Janeiro this summer. Both of them have made the most out of their time on Team USA, and they very much want to make the team again. DeMarcus had an All-Star year, and Rudy’s stats improved last season because of their time spent with the USA World Cup Team. Rudy Gay talked to the Sacramento Bee about being a finalist.
"“There’s a lot of great players that aren’t on that list. It’s just good to be noticed.”"
Rudy Gay also got gold with the 2010 USA World Championship team. He has the fourth most international games played, with 41, out of the 30 finalists. He was a late addition to the 2014 USA World Cup Team roster because others had to bow out because of injuries.
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Gay’s chances of making the final 12 aren’t the best this time around. But his experience and willingness to play team basketball with the other all-star caliber players are attractive qualities the USA Basketball Board of Directors wants. If injuries are an issue again this year Rudy would be a great replacement.
Cousins is one of the best big men in the game and he is having another monster season. There should be no one on any international team that he couldn’t bully down in the blocks. With such an amazing list of talent to choose from, picking Boogie isn’t a no-brainer. But it’s really close.
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The 2016 USA coaching staff is again led by Duke University’s head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Serving as assistant coaches are Jim Boeheim (Syracuse University), Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder).