Stoudemire Most Intriguing of 27 Players Named for Team USA

Filed under: FIBA, USA Basketball

Andrew Bynum and Rajon Rondo turned down invitations. But that was no problem since USA Basketball had plenty of eager replacements.

In fact, it seemed as though Amar'e Stoudemire's days with Team USA were done. But the Phoenix forward, who had turned off USA Basketball officials by pulling out before the 2008 Olympics, was perhaps the biggest surprise when the pool of 27 names for this year's World Championships in Turkey, and ultimately the 2012 Olympics, was announced Wednesday.

"There was a time when he was not really going to be considered," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said of Stoudemire during a conference call. Stoudemire was on the 2004 Olympic team that settled for a bronze medal. "Had he not really reached out through his own efforts personally and his agent about his extreme desire to be part of it, he would not have been part of it."

As for Bynum, the Los Angeles Lakers' center, and Rondo, the Boston Celtics' point guard, both were wanted for Team USA. Colangelo said Bynum bowed out at the "last minute," saying he didn't want to make the commitment, and Rondo ignored overtures.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/02/10/stoudemire-most-intriguing-of-27-players-named-for-team-usa/