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Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins flips in a basket during an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Los Angeles.
(AP Photo)
Former LeFlore High School standout DeMarcus Cousins is one of the 30 finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team. USA Basketball announced the players under consideration for the 12-member team that will represent the United States at the Summer Olympic Games in Brazil in August.
Cousins is the center for the Sacramento Kings. In his sixth NBA season, the Mobile native is averaging 25.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. He ranks fourth in scoring average and fifth in rebound average in the NBA this season.
Cousins was a member of the U.S. team that won the 2014 World Cup in Spain.
The other finalists are San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler, Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley, Warriors guard Stephen Curry, New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis, Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, Kings forward Rudy Gay, Indiana Pacers forward Paul George, Warriors forward Draymond Green, Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, Houston Rockets guard James Harden, Utath Jazz forward Gordon Hayward, Rockets center Dwight Howard, Warriors forward Andre Iguodala, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers forward LeBron James, Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, Clippers guard Chris Paul, Warriors guard Klay Thompson, Wizards guard John Wall and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook.
The U.S. team will be coached by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski.
"It seems like I say this each time we have to narrow down a roster," said Jerry Colangelo, the managing director of the U.S. men's national team, "but I am struck by the remarkable commitment the players in the USA Basketball national team program continue to display and the enthusiasm they have for representing their country.
"The depth of talent that exists in the national team program is extraordinary. Repeating as gold medalists at the 2016 Olympics will not be easy, but we feel confident that we have 30 finalists who offer amazing basketball abilities and special versatility. We're also fortunate that the roster is comprised of so many veterans of international basketball. In addition to 18 players who have won Olympic and/or World Cup gold medals, there are 16 finalists who have played between 20 and 72 games for USA Basketball. That experience is extremely valuable and something we've not always had available to draw upon.
"Obviously, selecting the official roster of 12 players for the Olympics in 2016 will be a very, very difficult process. As has been the case with past USA Basketball teams, the goal once again is to select the very best team possible to represent the United States."
Nine players from the gold-medal winning 2012 U.S. Olympic team of the London Games are among the finalists: Anthony, Davis, Durant, Harden, Iguodala, James, Love, Paul and Westbrook. Anthony, Howard, James and Paul also played for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team that captured the gold medal in Beijing.
The 2016 Summer Olympic Games will be held Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro. Preliminary play in the men's basketball tournament is scheduled for Aug. 6-15, with the quarterfinals on Aug. 17, the semifinals on Aug. 19 and the gold- and bronze-medal games on Aug. 21.
Twelve countries will compete for the men's basketball gold medal. In addition to the United States, teams representing Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Lithuania, Nigeria, Spain and Venezuela have qualified for the tournament. The other three spots will be filled through three FIBA Olympic-qualifying tournaments in July.