Skip to content
Sixers
Link copied to clipboard

Sixers' Iguodala makes Olympic team

It was announced tonight that Sixers forward Andre Iguodala will be a member of the 2012 USA Olympic team that will start competition in London later this month.

Though his name is usually related in this area with trade rumors, Andre Iguodala and Olympian can now be mentioned in the same sentence.

Saturday night in Las Vegas USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced the 12-man team and it included Iguodala.

"On behalf of the entire Philadelphia 76ers organization, I would like to congratulate Andre Iguodala on receiving the tremendous honor of being named to the United States Men's Basketball Team and representing our country during the upcoming Olympic Games," said Managing Owner Joshua Harris. "We have no doubt he will be an incredible ambassador for our country, our city, our team and our fans while going for the gold in London. We wish him all the best."

Iguodala averaged 12.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Sixers this past season while shooting 45.4 percent from the floor. He also made 76-of-193 three-pointers for a career-best 39.4 percent from three-point range.

"I would like to congratulate Andre on achieving his goal of making the United States Olympic team and want to wish him and the rest of the men's basketball team good luck in London." said President of Basketball Operations Rod Thorn.

Sixers head coach Doug Collins said, "Congrats to Dre. Nobody could be more pleased than I am that he's starting to get the recognition for being a great player. Being an Olympian in 1972, I know what this means for him and I'm very proud."

In 2010 Iguodala was a starter for the 2010 USA World Championship Team which won the gold medal in Turkey.

"We projected we would have difficulty getting down to a roster of 12, regardless of the number of injurie that have taken place, because they are such an outstanding group of people and athletes," said Colangelo, whose team will be coached by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski. "The final selections keep us in concert with our game plan to have athleticism, versatility and strong depth on our roster. I think our final roster epitomizes all of that."

The roster is: Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, James Harden, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams and Iguodala.

"We have benefited so much from having a pool of outstanding players who are committed, and as a result the selection is difficult. But it's the best challenge that you could have because everyone has been so committed," said Krzyzewski.

Also on Krzyzewski's staff is Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and former NBA coaches Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan.

After the team finishes training in Las Vegas they will train in Washington, D.C. July 13-15 and play and exhibition game against Brazil at the Verizon Center on July 16 at 8 p.m. They will then train in Manchester, England July 17-18 before taking on Great Britain on the 19th.