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.
Sixers' Iguodala makes Olympic team
Bob Cooney
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.
The Knicks will never win a thing; book it!— JBinPA- at this point, get me ryan now so i can sleep in piece at night, although i have no idea how he can play with Hawes, who is very different from dwight. lol
Im ALSO MIGHT be getting to the point where i try and sign Oj Mayo to a nice 1 year prove what you are made of deal, like they did with nick young....i have no problem shipping thad away. only parts of his game i like is hard work, and taking charges. that shouldnt cost 40mil!!!— johnGiam - Nah Ryan Anderson is going to the Hornets in a sign-and-trade for Gustavo Ayon. So one more big off the market. Looks like Nets and Magic are still trying to work on a deal for Dwight. Rumor has it that Brook Lopez would go to the Magic and a sign-and-trade of Humphries to a 3rd team. Looks like Nets are trying to get 3 first round picks to send to Orlando along with Lopez for Dwight. Ouch! If we don't get Humphries I'd hate to see us go into next season with all the other teams around us much better and us losing 2 of our best in Brand and Lou. At least our draft pick is lottery protected. I'd have much rather signed Humphries than do a sign-and-trade because we'd have to give up someone now and to division or conference rivals at that. The good feeling from Brand's amnesty have all gone away with this news. I'm worried until their next move. We are sliding out of the playoff picture here. Nets will be much better with Deron and Johnson alone. Celtics might be as good without Ray with their signings. Knicks improved. Nets improved. Raptors possibly improved. Even the Miami Heat improved with Ray to hit open 3's. We either need a big signing or two or a trade to get some superstars in here. It's getting ugly fast!— joecooler2u
- yup ryan is gone. tell me how we coulnt do better then the 4yr 36mil offer that he just signed . what a disgrace!!! i want elton back!— johnGiam
- yup ryan is gone. tell me how we coulnt do better then the 4yr 36mil offer that he just signed . what a disgrace!!! i want elton back!— johnGiam
- lets see:
Gone: Illyasova, anderson, jason Thompson.
Available: Humphries(expensive), Novak(not a starter), Landry, JJ Hickson
We have some serious problems— johnGiam - ------------I find it amazing how blind with hatred many of the followers of the Philadelphia 76ers are,-----------------
I give the most credit for this to certain talk show hosts that have a big following.
— All About Sports - I don't see how the Sixers can be excited about Iguodala playing basketball all summer on the Olympic team. Two years ago, he played all summer without a break on the national team and suffered through the next season with nagging injuries and a subpar year. If there ever was a time to trade him, now would be it. Let his worn out body be someone else's problem in the fall.— Robman
- Pushing the trade value up. Pull the trigger Hot Rod!— alwaysphil1
- i Dont know about the olympic team, but i do know this , the sixers will be a ho-hum mediocre team until he is gone!!!— flyers11
- Andre is an incredible player, he just doesn't fit with the current Sixers roster. Mike Richards won the cup with LA, yet he didn't fit here. That is proof team and chemistry matter. Not putting square pegs in round holes.
Replace Meta World Peace with AI9 and we might have seen the Lakers in the finals this year.
He is an extremely talented player who does the little "dirty" needed to be a real winner.
We don't beat Chicago this year without him.
We don't take the Celtics to 7 without him.
Will the 76ers win it all with him? No. But do not deny his talent and heart.
Go Andre (not Iggy) and bring us all Americans home a gold medal!— Loomus - Good for him. Bad for the Sixers. No off season to rest his achilles problems. That means he'll be playing hurt all nest season. Is it unethical to trade him while he's representing the country? Do it, and do it now!!— FetchDixon
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
