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USA Announces Final Roster for World Cup

DerrickRose_USA_2014

USA Basketball National Team Managing Directorย Jerry Colangeloย announcedย Fridayย night the 12 players who will represent the United States at the 2014 FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Basketball World Cup that is being heldย Aug. 30-Sept. 14ย in Spain. The player announcement followed the USA’s112-86 exhibition victory over Puerto Ricoย Fridayย evening at Madison Square Garden.

Named as members of the official 2014 USA Basketball World Cup Team were:ย DeMarcus Cousinsย (Sacramento Kings);ย Stephen Curryย (Golden State Warriors);ย Anthony Davisย (New Orleans Pelicans);ย DeMar DeRozanย (Toronto Raptors);ย Andre Drummondย (Detroit Pistons);ย Kenneth Fariedย (Denver Nuggets);ย Rudy Gayย (Sacramento Kings);ย James Hardenย (Houston Rockets);ย Kyrie Irvingย (Cleveland Cavaliers);ย Mason Plumleeย (Brooklyn Nets);ย Derrick Roseย (Chicago Bulls); andย Klay Thompsonย (Golden State Warriors).

โ€œSince taking over the USA Basketball Menโ€™s National Team program in 2005, this was without doubt the most difficult selection process weโ€™ve gone through,โ€ said Colangelo. โ€œI canโ€™t stress enough the outstanding effort and commitment that has been given by each finalist. I also want to make it clear that this is not just about talent โ€“ each player is incredibly talented and each player offered us unique skills. In the end it was about assembling the best team, selecting guys who we felt would be able to best play the kind of style we envision this team playing.โ€

โ€œThe first thing is we are very pleased with the overall effort of every player who was a part of the process,โ€ saidย Mike Krzyzewski, USA head coach and Duke Universityโ€™s Naismith Hall of Fame mentor. โ€œTo select twelve was difficult, because our pool is so good. As we go forward, we not only go forward as twelve, we go forward as a pool for USA Basketball. As a staff we want to thank the players who are not going forward.

โ€œIโ€™m excited about the 12 players selected and feel we have excellent versatility and the makings of a really good defensive team.โ€

via USA Basketball press release