Sixers Iguodala Finalist for Olympic Team

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced the finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team and Philadelphia 76ers forward Andre Iguodala was one of 20 players named. The official 12-man U.S. Olympic team roster will be announced later this year.

Iguodala was a starter on the 2010 U.S. World Championship Team which won the gold medal in Turkey. He was also a member of the U.S. Select Team which helped prepare Team USA for the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and the 2008 Olympics. The Sixers have not had a player represent them in the Olympics since Allen Iverson in 2004.

“The entire Sixers organization – our ownership, coaching staff, front office and team – is thrilled that Andre received the honor of being named one of the finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team,” said Head Coach Doug Collins. “Andre helped the country win a gold medal at the World Championships and showed that he deserved to be in this select company.”

This season, Iguodala is averaging 14.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.17 steals while helping the Sixers to a 9-3 mark, which is their best start since going 11-1 in 2000-01. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team last season and joined LeBron James as the only players to average at least 14 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.

Also named as finalists for the 2012 USA team were: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers); Chris Bosh (Miami Heat); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets). Griffin was also officially added to the USA Basketball National Team roster.

The 2012 USA coaching staff is led by Duke University’s Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, and serving as USA assistant coaches are Syracuse University’s Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, New York Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni, and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.

“The USA Basketball Men’s National Team program has come a long way as the elite list of players who are now part of our program shows. The selected finalists are a very, very talented group; the depth of the talent is extraordinary. This selection decision was as difficult of a challenge as I’ve faced since I took on the USA National Team program in 2005,” said Colangelo, who has served as the managing director of the USA Men’s National Team since 2005.

(From Sixers Press Release)