HOUSTON – The U.S. Men’s National Team is playing five domestic exhibition games and conducting training camps in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Chicago and Houston.
The USA men's national team will conclude the USA Basketball Showcase facing 2015 FIBA Africa zone champion Nigeria on Aug. 1 in Houston at the Toyota Center.
They will open the 2016 USA Basketball Showcase facing South American rival and FIBA’s No. 4 ranked world power Argentina in Las Vegas at a site to be announced on Friday, July 22 (all game times are to be announced).
Then the U.S. will play two exhibition games versus 2015 FIBA Asia zone champ China, the first at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 24 and the second will be held July 26 at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Continuing its exhibition tour in Chicago, the USA will play on July 29 at the United Center versus 2015 FIBA Americas gold medalist Venezuela.
“With only a short period of training available, our training and exhibition games are critical in helping us prepare for the challenges we will face in Rio in defending our gold medal,” said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman and national team managing director. “We’re excited to give USA Basketball fans nationwide the opportunity to see their USA National Team in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Chicago and Houston.”
The 2016 Olympic Games men’s basketball competition will feature national teams from 12 countries competing Aug. 6-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Krzyzewski will be assisted on the USA bench by Syracuse University’s Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim and NBA coaches Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder).
Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard and guard James Harden are among the 31 finalists for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team. The other finalists are: LaMarcus Aldridge; Carmelo Anthony; Harrison Barnes; Bradley Beal; Jimmy Butler; Mike Conley; DeMarcus Cousins; Stephen Curry; Anthony Davis; DeMar DeRozan; Andre Drummond; Kevin Durant; Kenneth Faried; Rudy Gay; Paul George; Draymond Green; Blake Griffin; Gordon Hayward; Andre Iguodala; Kyrie Irving; LeBron James; DeAndre Jordan; Kawhi Leonard; Damian Lillard; Kevin Love; Chris Paul; Klay Thompson; John Wall; and Russell Westbrook.