The Americans tried on their new uniforms, then went through a two-hour practice at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus.
“We just wanted to start putting our offense in and run shots and the speed at which we're trying to play, and let them interact,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “That's a big thing – understanding the magnitude of all this.”
This was the first gathering of the 12-member squad since it was announced Monday. Four players – LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Carlos Boozer – are holdovers from the 2004 Olympic team, which won the bronze medal.
This year's team has a loftier goal – America's 13th gold medal. Anything less will be an enormous disappointment for players who gave a three-year commitment to the national program.
Yesterday's workout produced little news – and that was good news.
Center Dwight Howard missed practice as he continued to recover from what Krzyzewski described as a stress fracture in his sternum. But Howard is expected to be ready for next month's training camp.
Kobe Bryant is still nursing a torn ligament in his right pinkie, which could require surgery after the Olympics. Bryant said his finger “still gets sore every once in a while. But it's been manageable to this point, and hopefully it'll stay that way.”
USA Basketball officials had originally planned to choose the squad at this minicamp. But they selected the group earlier in the week, and what had been planned as a four-day camp was reduced to an orientation meeting and one practice.
– ASSOCIATED PRESS
