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Bryant on preliminary US roster for World Championships
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-03-06 09:09
COLORADO SPRINGS, United States (AFP) - National Basketball Association
scoring leader Kobe Bryant was among the 21 NBA stars named to the initial
23-man list that will produce America's World Championship squad.
Also included on the list, which will be narrowed first to 15 and then
trimmed to 12 for the FIBA World Championships in Japan in August, were Gilbert
Arenas of the Washington Wizards, Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons, Joe
Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks, Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics, Michael Redd of
the Milwaukee Bucks, Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, Luke Ridnour of the Seattle
SuperSonics, and rookie Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets.
Forwards named were Phoenix Suns teammates Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire,
Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors, Dwight
Howard of the Orlando Magic, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers,
Washington's Antawn Jamison, Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs and Lamar Odom
of the Lakers.
The only true center named was Brad Miller of the Sacramento Kings, but USA
Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said Los Angeles Lakers big man
Shaquille O'Neal has a standing invitation to join the squad.
"Shaq and I have a good relationship," Colangelo said. "I said (to him) the
door's open. There's always a spot."
Noticeably absent from the team is Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson, a
co-captain on the 2004 Olympic squad that won bronze in Athens.
"Everyone was considered," said Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University's legendary
college coach who will guide the team. "It is obvious that we're not trying to
put a collection of All-Stars together."
Colangelo defended not selecting Iverson, who wanted to play for Team USA
again.
"We were looking for distributors at the guard sport and we think we have
that with guys like Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups and Luke Ridnour," Colangelo
said. "Plus, we already have seven of the top eight scorers in the NBA on this
team."
Although Iverson isn't regarded as a "distributor," he is averaging more than
seven assists a game for the Sixers this season.
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