Stephen Curry and Tyreke Evans may have been rivals when it came to the NBA rookie of the year award, but the two standout first-year players are now on the same team. Both were named to USA Basketball's 2010-2012 National Team it was announced on Tuesday.
Also joining the team are Tayshaun Prince of the Pistons and Jeff Green of the Thunder. The national team roster stands at 31 players.
"We're excited about the addition of these four outstanding players," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a press release.
"In adding Tyreke and Stephen we have brought into the national team fold two of the game's most exciting and promising newcomers," Colangelo said.
"The addition of Tayshaun, Jeff, Stephen and Tyreke to our national team roster adds additional veteran experience, versatility, and young talent,” USA and Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski said in the press release. “Although we have a number of players who were members of the 2006-08 national team returning to the 2010-12 national team pool, we are beginning a new selection and team building process and I believe the addition of these four players will help strengthen our national team program in several areas over the next three years.”
Evans, the fourth pick in the 2009 draft by the Kings, recently was named the NBA rookie of the year after averaging more than 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. Curry, the seventh pick by the Warriors, averaged 17.5 points, 5.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds and was second in the rookie voting.
Curry has previous national team experience, playing on the 2007 USA U19 World Championship Team that finished 8-1 and won the silver medal. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.8 steals per game.
Previously named to the team were NBA stars and 2008 Olympic gold medalists Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams.
Also on the current roster are LaMarcus Aldridge, Chauncey Billups, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Danny Granger, Andre Iguadala, Al Jefferson, David Lee, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, O.J. Mayo, Lamar Odom, Kendrick Perkins, Derrick Rose, Amare Stoudemire, Gerald Wallace and Russell Westbrook.
The USA Men’s National Team’s summer training will be held July 19-24 in Las Vegas. Practices will be closed to the public but the training camp will end with an intrasquad game on July 24 on the UNLV campus. See the official release for more information, including tickets to the Showcase game.
The 2010 World Championship will be Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey. The winner of the World Championship tournament earns an automatic berth into the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Team USA took the bronze in 2006 and last won the World Championship in 1994.
If the U.S. team does not win the World Championship, it will play in the 2011 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Dates and site for that tournament have not yet been determined.
In other Warriors news, the team announced that Kelenna Azubuike has elected to exercise his player option in his contract for the 2010-2011 season. Azubuike, 26, played nine games this year before tearing the patellar tendon in his left knee on Nov. 14 against Milwaukee. He underwent surgery four days later. In those nine games, Azubuike averaged 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.7 minutes per game.
Comments
go curry!!!!!!!
when a player exercises their right what does that mean?
freshdonuts, it mean's that when the Warriors signed Azubuike...they gave him an option to return to the team for another year, or enter free agency (where he may or may not get paid as much as he may have had he excercised his player option.)
thanks will.
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