- Title: USA: The 2008 USA men's Olympic basketball team is introduced in New York City
- Date: 2nd July 2008
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) KOBE BRYANT, 2008 USA MEN'S OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM, SAYING: "It's great. This is what it's about. We are playing for our country. We are not playing for the Lakers, or the Cavs, or the Bulls, or whatever it may be. We are playing for our country, so we are all united." USA BASKETBALL SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) KOBE BRYANT, 2008 USA MEN'S OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM, SAYING: "It's not very difficult at all. The offense that we run, everybody is extremely unselfish. It will be no problem." LEBRON JAMES TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEBRON JAMES, 2008 USA MEN'S OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM, SAYING: "It's going to take a lot of hard work and dedication. Everybody is going to have to sacrifice what they do on their respective teams for the better of our team. We got the right group. We got the right coaching staff. It's up for us to go get it. We got to go get it." (SOUNDBITE) (English) JASON KIDD, 2008 USA MEN'S OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM, SAYING: "The biggest is to win a gold medal, and to do it with respect and to be humble about it, that we don't have to show people up." TEAM USA UNIFORM (SOUNDBITE) (English) DWAYNE WADE, 2008 USA MEN'S OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM, SAYING: "I have won a championship and it means so much in our game, in the NBA game. There are a lot of players that live the game and don't have the opportunity to do it, so I am blessed and thankful that I have had the opportunity early in my career, but also winning the gold medal after losing in 2004, you understand more of what it means to the country. It's going to feel just as good if not better to win a gold medal." TEAM POSING FOR PHOTOS
- Embargoed: 17th July 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAEG4NT8TFOE1G4DXR4M5UCPU2M
- Story Text: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Jason Kidd will help lead the 2008 USA men's Olympic basketball team in Beijing.
The 2008 USA men's Olympic basketball team was introduced in New York City on Monday (June 30) to a cheering crowds of hundreds.
The team held court at the Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan and showed off their new Olympic uniforms.
The team will be led by head coach Mike Krzyzewski, and the twelve members of the 2008 Olympic team are Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd, Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams.
Carlos Boozer, the Utah Jazz forward said the team only has one goal in mind as they represent the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"We got a bunch of good guys. We got twelve great guys on the team. We've got great coaches. We're here for one goal and one goal only, to win the gold medal," he said.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Kobe Bryant said despite the fact that each person plays professionally for a different team, the 2008 Olympic squad can come together and work together.
"This is what it's about. We are playing for our country. We are not playing for the Lakers, or the Cavs, or the Bulls, or whatever it may be.
We are playing for our country, so we are all united."
Byrant added: "The offense that we run, everybody is extremely unselfish. It will be no problem."
According to USA Basketball, the United States has won gold in 12 out of the 15 Olympics in which it has played.
In 2004, the USA won the bronze medal. In 2002, the USA finished sixth place in the FIBA World Championship. This year, the team says it is ready for the international competition and is prepared to win gold.
Star forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James said success for the Olympic team will depend on teamwork.
"It's going to take a lot of hard work and dedication. Everybody is going to have to sacrifice what they do on their respective teams for the better of our team. We got the right group.We got the right coaching staff.
It's up for us to go get it. We got to go get it," he said.
Jason Kidd, of the Dallas Mavericks, said he wants to win gold, but also wants to win with class.
"The biggest is to win a gold medal, and to do it with respect and to be humble about it, that we don't have to show people up," he said.
Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat guard said winning a gold medal would feel just as good as winning the NBA championship.
"I have won a championship and it means so much in our game, in the NBA game. There are a lot of players that live the game and don't have the opportunity to do it, so I am blessed and thankful that I have had the opportunity early in my career, but also winning the gold medal after losing in 2004, you understand more of what it means to the country. It's going to feel just as good if not better to win a gold medal," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
