I figured that a separate Olympic thread for non-USA related stuff would be a good idea as countries start announcing their squads and the final qualifying and exhibition games are played. Appropriately, our first news is that Team Great Britain has announced a 21 man preliminary squad:
http://www.gbbasketball.com/news/2114.php
Our own Luol Deng is obviously the big head-liner, but Eric Boateng (now playing in Greece for Peristeri) is also on the list. Here are the rest of the names, their teams, and any ties they have to the United States:
Kieron Achara, Manresa (Spain), Duquesne
Ogo Adegboye, APOEL Nicosia (Cyprus), St. Bonaventure
Robert Archibald, Zaragoza (Spain), Illinois and NBA (2002-2004)
Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Hacettepe (Turkey), Washington
Dan Clark, Estudiantes (Spain)
Joel Freeland, Unicaja Malaga (Spain), Drafted 30th by Blazers in 2006
Ben Gordon, Detroit Pistons, UConn
Kyle Johnson, APOEL Nicosia (Cyprus), LIU
Mike Lenzly, Nymburk (Czech Republic), Wofford
Andrew Lawrence, College of Charleston
Alex Marcotullio, Northwestern
Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Besiktas (Turkey), George Washington and NBA (2006-2011)
Byron Mullens, Charlotte Bobcats, Ohio State
Sullivan Phillips, Prievidza (Slovakia), Washington Adventist (DII)
Nate Reinking, Sheffield (Great Britain), Kent State
Ryan Richards, no team, Drafted 49th by Spurs in 2010
Ovie Soko, UAB
Andrew Sullivan, Leicester (Great Britain), Villanova
Devon van Oostrum, Tarragona (Spain)
"I don't like them when they are eating my azaleas or rhododendrons or pansies." - Coach K
Did Gordon and Deng ever play together in Chicago?
"I don't like them when they are eating my azaleas or rhododendrons or pansies." - Coach K
Looks like Ricardo Rubio may not even be back for the beginning of the next NBA season.
The latest team to announce a preliminary roster is Lithuania and as expected, Marty Pocius is in the squad. Like Great Britain, Lithuania will be playing some exhibition games in Houston. They still need to qualify for the Olympics in the final tournament that decides the last three teams. Here is the article from the FIBA website for us English-language readers:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...1226/arti.html
Besides Marty, here is the rest of the team:
Mantas Kalnietis, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Panathinaikos Athens (Greece), Maryland and NBA (2005-2007)
Rolandas Alijevas, Krasnye Krylia Samara (Russia)
Adas Juskevicius, Rudupis (Lithuania)
Zygimantas Janavicius, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Tomas Delininkaitis, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Martynas Gecevicius, Olympiakos Piraeus (Greece)
Renaldas Seibutis, Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania), Drafted 50th by Mavericks in 2007
Rimantas Kaukenas, Montepaschi Siena, Seton Hall
Deividas Dulkys, Florida State
Simas Jasaitis, Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey)
Jonas Maciulis, Baltai (Lithuania)
Linus Kleiza, Toronto Raptors, Missouri
Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Mindaugas Katelynas, Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania), Tennessee-Chattanooga
Paulius Jankunas, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Darius Songaila, Valladolid (Spain), Wake Forest and NBA (2003-2011)
Tadas Klimivicius, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Donatas Motiejunas, Asseco Prokom Gdynia (Poland), Drafted 20th by Timberwolves in 2011, rights held by Rockets
Ksistof Lavrinovic, Montepaschi Siena (Italy)
Robertas Javtokas, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania), Arizona, Drafted 55th by Spurs in 2001
Antanas Kavaliauskas, VEF Riga (Latvia), Texas A&M
Jonas Valanciunas, Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania), Drafted 5th by Raptors in 2011
Lithuania with a population of 3.2 million, according to this profile from Wiki, what an amazing hoops story.
If there is such a thing, most basketball talent per capita?
Reminds me of Uruguay (almost exactly the same population) in soccer.
Yup, the Bulls began their resurrection with a starting lineup of Duhon, Hinrich, Deng/Nocioni, Antonio Davis, and Eddy Curry, with Gordon and Tyson Chandler coming off the bench. The following year they dumped Curry and started interchanging Gordon and Duhon as starters alongside Hinrich. Deng's role kept expanding each year (except when injuries sidelined him periodically), but Gordon never could shake his issues with streakiness, lack of defense, and lack of size at SG. So he kept bouncing in an out of the starting lineup as the staff tried to find the best way to maximize his talents. I think the Bulls would have loved to have simply made Gordon a permanent 6th man in the ~20 mpg range as instant offense, but they could never find a SG (or PG if they moved Hinrich to SG) good enough to keep Gordon off the floor.
The Bulls lucked out after the 2008 season when they struck it big and got the #1 pick. That allowed them to take Derrick Rose. They then moved Hinrich to the bench, started Gordon all season, and let Gordon walk after the year was over (thanking the Pistons for overpaying for Gordon's streakiness). Since leaving Chicago, Gordon hasn't reached 14ppg in 3 seasons since then.
But it was a nice run in Chicago for Gordon, Hinrich, and Deng. They went to the playoffs in 4 of their 5 seasons as a trio. And Deng has now become a key member of a team that has emerged as one of the top 3-4 teams in the NBA the last two years (with a little help from a guy named Rose, of course).
The latest squad announcement comes from Puerto Rico, which named a large preliminary squad for the large number of games they may play this summer:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...1411/arti.html
Here is the list with the Unites States ties as usual. Everyone whose team is listed as the Quebradillas Pirates is a current teammate of Shavlik Randolph.
Carlos Arroyo, Besiktas (Turkey), Florida International and NBA (2001-2011)
J.J. Barea, Minnesota Timberwolves, Northeastern
Andres Rodriguez, Obradoiro (Blu:sens Monbus) (Spain), American
Shabazz Napier, UConn
Denis Clemente, Nitra (Slovakia), Kansas State and Miami
Miguel Ali Berdiel, Bayamon Cowboys (Puerto Rico), Valparaiso
John Holland, Chorale Roanne (France), Boston University
Larry Ayuso, Arecibo Captains (Puerto Rico), USC
Mike Rosario, Florida
Johwen Villegas, Guaynabo Mets (Puerto Rico), Florida International
Javier Mojica, Bayamon Cowboys (Puerto Rico), Central Connecticut State
David Huertas, Quebradillas Pirates (Puerto Rico), Ole Miss
Edwin Ubiles, Dakota Wizards (D-League), Siena
Alex Galindo, Guayama Wizards (Puerto Rico), Florida International
Carmelo Lee, Bayamon Cowboys (Puerto Rico), Long Beach State
Kevin Young Morales, Kansas
Ricky Sanchez, Wuber Estudiantes de Bahia Blanca (Argentina), IMG Academy, Drafted 35th by Blazers in 2005, rights traded to Nuggets in 2005, traded to Sixers in 2007, and traded to Grizzlies in 2012
Ramon Clemente, Mayaguez Indians (Puerto Rico), Wichita State
Devon Collier, Oregon State
Tomas Vazquez, Guayama Wizards (Puerto Rico), Canisius
Carlos Lopez, UNLV
Nathan Peavy, Artland Dragons (Germany), Miami (Ohio)
Renaldo Balkman, no team, South Carolina and NBA (2006-2012)
Angel Garcia, Granada (Spain), Memphis
Matt Lopez, Utah State
Victor Davila, Virginia Tech
Jorge Bryan Diaz, Nebraska
Daniel Santiago, Arecibo Captains (Puerto Rico), New Mexico and St. Vincent (NAIA)
Peter John Ramos, Quebradillas Pirates (Puerto Rico), NBA (2004-2005)
Kyrie confirmed about 6-8 weeks ago that he won't be playing for the Aussies. Link.
He wants to be a part of team USA potentially in 2016, and this preserves that option for him. (BTW, how does that work if you have dual citizenship? Could you compete for one country in one olympics and another one 4 years later? I assume not, but I've never looked into the matter...maybe I should do a google search, but I have a meeting to go to right now.)
It is not possible to switch senior international teams. Once Kyrie plays for the United States full national team (not counting the U-18 or other youth teams) he cannot play for Australia and vice versa.
As publicized earlier in the year, Todd Zafirovski has been included in the preliminary squad for Macedonia's team for the final Qualifying Tournament. I will do the full list once it hits FIBA or another reputable English-language online source. Here is the announcement from the federation:
http://www.basketball.org.mk/?ItemID...581BAF25F1D777
Here is the list using an alphabet system that the typical DBR reader is familiar with:
http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=84298
While there are a number of Americans who have been naturalized on the list, keep in mind that only one is allowed to be on the final team and it is pretty much definitely going to be Bo McCalebb as long as he is healthy, due to the fact that he nearly single-handedly dragged them to a spot where they could even dream of qualifying for the Olympics.
Jon Scheyer's ex-coach Larry Blatt named his 16 player preliminary squad for the Olympic Qualifying tournament:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...1424/arti.html
Russia is also due to train and play a few exhibitions in the United States
Here are the player and their US ties:
Semen Antonov, Nizhny Novgorod (Russia)
Sergey Bykov, Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia)
Eugeny Voronov, CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Andrey Vorontsevich, CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Maxim Grigoryev, Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia)
Sergey Karasev, Triumph Lyubertsy (Russia)
Sasha Kaun, CSKA Moscow(Russia), Kansas, Drafted 56th by Sonics, rights traded to Cavaliers
Andrei Kirilenko, CSKA Moscow (Russia), NBA (2001-2011)
Timofey Mozgov, Denver Nuggets
Sergey Monya, Khimki Moscow (Russia), NBA (2005-2006)
Anton Ponkrashov, CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Vitaly Fridzon, Khimki Moscow (Russia)
Dmitry Khvostov, Khimki Moscow (Russia)
Viktor Khryapa, CSKA Moscow (Russia), NBA (2004-2008)
Alexey Shved, CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Artem Yakovenko, UNICS Kazan (Russia)
Here are two more preliminary squads:
First up is Australia, which will be in the other group and could be a potential quarterfinal opponent for the United States:
http://www.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=302&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=2437&tx_ttnews[backPid]=282&cHash=2b7403a40f
David Andersen, Montepaschi Siena (Italy), NBA (2009-2011)
David Barlow, UCAM Murcia (Spain), Metro State (DII)
Aron Baynes, Ikaros Kallitheas (Greece), Washington State
Anatoly Bose, Sydney Kings (Australia), Nicholls State
Ryan Broekhoff, Valparaiso
Peter Crawford, Townsville Crocodiles (Australia)
Mitch Creek, Adelaide 36ers (Australia)
Matthew Dellavedova, St. Mary's
Anthony Drmic, Boise State
Adam Gibson, Gold Coast Blaze (Australia)
Hugh Greenwood, New Mexico
Joe Ingles, FC Barcelona (Spain)
Nathan Jawai, UNICS Kazan (Russia), Midland (JC) and NBA (2008-2010)
Julian Khazzouh, Sydney Kings (Australia)
Daniel Kickert, PGE Turow (Poland), St. Mary's
Matt Knight, Perth Wildcats (Australia), Loyola Marymount
Aleks Maric, Panathinaikos Athens (Greece), Nebraska
Damian Martin, Perth Wildcats (Australia), Loyola Marymount
Patrick Mills, San Antonio Spurs, St. Mary's
Brock Motum, Washington State
Brad Newley, Valencia (Spain), Drafted 54th in 2007 by Rockets
Matt Nielsen, Khimki Moscow (Russia)
AJ Ogilvy, Valencia (Spain), Vanderbilt
Jesse Wagstaff, Perth Wildcats (Australia), Metro State (DII)
Mark Worthington, Gold Coast Blaze (Australia), Metro State (DII)
Here is Jordan's list for the qualifying tournament. There are not too many United States ties with this group and all of them play in the country's domestic league.
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...1479/arti.html
Wesam Al-Sous, ASU Sports Club (Jordan)
Mousa Alawadi, ASU Sports Club (Jordan)
Islam Abbaas, ASU Sports Club (Jordan)
Mohammad Hadrab, ASU Sports Club (Jordan)
Abdallah Abuqoura, ASU Sports Club (Jordan)
Mahmoud Abdeen, ASU Sports Club (Jordan)
Mohammad Hussein, ASU Sports Club (Jordan)
Sam Daghles, Orthodox Amman (Jordan), Midwestern State (DII)
Zaid Abbas, Orthodox Amman (Jordan)
Fares Saqf-AlHait, Orthodox Amman (Jordan), Calumet (NAIA)
Hasan Sinan Sen, Orthodox Amman (Jordan)
Enver Soobzokov, Orthodox Amman (Jordan), CSU-San Bernardino (DII)
Khaldon Abu Ruqayah, Kofer Yoba Irbid (Jordan)
Hani Alfaraj, Kofer Yoba Irbid (Jordan)
Ibrahim Bassam, Kofer Yoba Irbid (Jordan)
Ahmad Alhamarsheh, Kofer Yoba Irbid (Jordan)
Fadel Al Najjar, Kofer Yoba Irbid (Jordan)
Ali Zaghab, Al Riyadi Amman (Jordan)
Mohammad Jamal, Al Riyadi Amman (Jordan)
Ahmad Al Dwairi, Al Riyadi Amman (Jordan)
I'll bet they are all Duke fans and frequently rooted for the Western Conference winners in numerous Finals series in the 1990s.
Here is the latest squad, South Korea's for the qualification round. I was unable to find current teams for all of the players but it seems that some of them play for Korean universities and one appears to still be in high school. There are few American ties outside of the ones born here, but there are a pair of ACC connections:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...1484/arti.html
Ji-Hyun Park, Wonju Dongbu Promy (South Korea)
Kwang-Jae Lee, Wonju Dongbu Promy (South Korea)
Dong-Geun Yang, Ulsan Mobis Phoebus (South Korea)
Byung-Hyun Kang, Jeonju KCC Egis (South Korea)
Young-Sam Jung, Incheon ET Land Elephants (South Korea)
Chan-Hee Park, Anyang KGC (South Korea)
Tony Akins, Jeonju KCC Egis (South Korea), Georgia Tech
Tae-Sool Kim, Anyang KGC (South Korea)
Jung-Hyun Lee, Anyang KGC (South Korea)
Sun-Hyung Kim
Sung-Min Cho, Busan KY Sonicboom (South Korea)
Joo-Sung Kim, Wonju Dongbu Promy (South Korea)
Ji-Hoon Ham, Ulsan Mobis Phoebus (South Korea)
Ho-Young Yoon, Wonju Dongbu Promy (South Korea)
Hee-Jong Yang, Anyang KGC (South Korea)
Eric Sandrin, Seoul Samsung Thunders (South Korea), Seattle Pacific (DII), also known as Seung-Jun Lee
Dong-Wook Kim
Jin-Soo Choi, Goyang Orions (South Korea), Maryland
Min-Gu Kim
Seung-Hyun Lee
Jong-Kyu Kim
Jun-Il Kim
Jong-Hyun Lee
Se-Keun Oh, Anyang KGC (South Korea)
France has named their 18 man preliminary squad and listed 6 players that would be called in as replacements. DeMarcus Nelson has one of his Cholet teammates on the list. Here is the article:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...1548/arti.html
Here are both the lists of 18 and 6 players with their teams and any American ties:
Andrew Albicy, BCM Gravelines (France)
Rodrigue Beaubois, Dallas Mavericks
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Steed Tchicamboud, Elan Chalon (France)
Yannick Bokolo, BCM Gravelines (France)
Fabian Causeur, Cholet (France)
Nando De Colo, Valencia (Spain), Drafted 53rd by Spurs in 2009
Nicolas Batum, Portland Trailblazers
Yakhouba Diawara, Varese (Italy), Pepperdine
Mickael Gelabale, Khimki Moscow (Russia), NBA (2006-2008)
Charles Kahudi, Le Mans Sarthe (France)
Boris Diaw, San Antonio Spurs
Florent Pietrus, Valencia (Spain)
Ali Traore, Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia), Southern Idaho (JC)
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls, Florida
Ian Mahinmi, Dallas Mavericks
Kevin Seraphin, Washington Wizards
Ronnie Turiaf, Miami Heat, Gonzaga
Alexis Ajinca, Strasbourg IG (France), NBA (2008-2011)
Evan Fournier, Poitiers (France), Declared for 2012 NBA Draft
Thomas Heurtel, Caja Laboral Baskonia (Spain)
Edwin Jackson, ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne (France)
Mickael Pietrus, Boston Celtics
Kim Tillie, ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne (France), Utah
Brazil's 13 players have been announced. They will not be in the same group as the United States in the Olympics.
English:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...1662/arti.html
Portuguese:
http://www.cbb.com.br/noticias/showr...sp?Artigo=9788
Marcelo Huertas, FC Barcelona (Spain), Coppell High School (Texas)
Larry James Taylor Jr, Bauru (Brazil), Missouri Western State (DII)
Raul Togni Neto, Lagun Aro (Spain)
Leandro Barbosa, Indiana Pacers
Marcelo Machado, Flamengo (Brazil)
Marcus Vinicius Vieira De Souza, Pinheiros (Brazil), NBA (2006-2008)
Alex Ribeiro Garcia, Brasilia (Brazil), NBA (2003-2005)
Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers
Guilherme Giovannoni, Brasilia (Brazil)
Tiago Splitter, San Antonio Spurs
Rafael Hettsheimeir, Zaragoza (Spain)
Nene, Washington Wizards
Caio Torres, Flamengo (Brazil)
That could actually be a pretty decent team, with a starting lineup of all NBA players. If I'm not mistaken, all of these guys are starters or solid rotation players.
PG Tony Parker
SG Mickael Pietrus
SF Boris Diaw
PF Ronnie Turiaf
C Joakim Noah
Plus four other NBA guys (none of whom I'm familiar with)
All four of these guys are LEGIT NBA players.
Rodrigue Beaubois, Dallas Mavericks
Nicolas Batum, Portland Trailblazers
Ian Mahinmi, Dallas Mavericks
Kevin Seraphin, Washington Wizards
If these 9 got used to playing with each other, they have the talent to win the whole thing, no question.
France finished as runners-up in Eurobasket 2011 even without Turiaf, Pietrus, Beaubois, and Mahinimi on the team. UC's starting five there would certainly be the defensively oriented version of the team. Batum has showed plenty of scoring ability along with ex-NBA player Gelabale. Do not sleep on players like Nando De Colo and DeMarcus Nelson's teammate and French League MVP Fabien Causeur on the wing and Ali Traore down low.
Marty has survived Lithuania's first cut down to 19 players. Here are the other players still in contention:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...1674/arti.html
Tomas Delininkaitis, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Deividas Dulkys, Florida State
Paulius Jankunas, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Simas Jasaitis, Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey)
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Panathinaikos Athens (Greece), Maryland and NBA (2005-2007)
Robertas Javtokas, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania), Arizona, Drafted 55th by Spurs in 2001
Adas Juskevicius, Rudupis (Lithuania)
Mantas Kalnietis, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Rimantas Kaukenas, Montepaschi Siena, Seton Hall
Antanas Kavaliauskas, VEF Riga (Latvia), Texas A&M
Linus Kleiza, Toronto Raptors, Missouri
Tadas Klimivicius, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Jonas Maciulis, Baltai (Lithuania)
Donatas Motiejunas, Asseco Prokom Gdynia (Poland), Drafted 20th by Timberwolves in 2011, rights held by Rockets
Renaldas Seibutis, Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania), Drafted 50th by Mavericks in 2007
Darius Songaila, Valladolid (Spain), Wake Forest and NBA (2003-2011)
Jonas Valanciunas, Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania), Drafted 5th by Raptors in 2011
Here is Angola's 17 player list for the qualifying tournament:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...1671/arti.html
Leonel Paulo, Primeiro de Agosto (Angola)
Carlos Almeida, Primeiro de Agosto (Angola)
Armando Costa, Primeiro de Agosto (Angola)
Kikas Gomes, Primeiro de Agosto (Angola), Valparaiso
Felizardo Ambrósio, Primeiro de Agosto (Angola)
Carlos Morais, Petroleos de Luanda (Angola)
Paulo Barros, Petroleos de Luanda (Angola)
Roberto Fortes, Petroleos de Luanda (Angola), Illinois State
Divaldo Mbunga, Petroleos de Luanda (Angola), Montana State
Paulo Santana, Petroleos de Luanda (Angola), Southeastern (JC)
Jorge Tati, Interclube de Luanda (Angola)
Eduardo Mingas, Interclube de Luanda (Angola)
Milton Barros, Interclube de Luanda (Angola)
Olímpio Cipriano, Libolo (Angola)
Luís Costa, Libolo (Angola)
Yanick Moreira, South Plains (JC)
Valdelicio Joaquim, Hawaii