Rio 2016 Olympics: Kevin Love, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin Wants to Play for USA Basketball
Several NBA superstars have already signified their interest to play for the USA men's basketball team that will defend their title in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Multiple reports confirmed that Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers are planning to attend the USA Basketball minicamp in Las Vegas next month to become members of the pool for the Olympic team.
ESPN sources revealed that Love will be in Las Vegas to appear in the three-day minicamp despite his ongoing rehabilitation from a shoulder surgery.
Love, who recently signed a five-year maximum deal worth $110 million this summer, suffered a season-ending injury during the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs. He will not recover in time to participate in the camp, but he will travel to Las Vegas to talk to USA Basketball managing director to become a part of the pool for the team.
Like Love, Durant will also be in Las Vegas to be considered for the final roster for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Thunder superstar missed majority of the 2014-15 NBA season because of a recurring foot injury.
The New York Post also reported that Anthony wants to make his return to the national squad. In order to do so, Anthony will also attend the Las Vegas minicamp despite undergoing knee surgery earlier this year.
The Knicks superstar, who averaged 24.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in 40 games last season, is expected to be cleared to play by end of August, which means he will not participate in the camp like Love and Durant.
ESPN also confirmed that Griffin will participate in the camp after missing the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain last year. He was considered shoo-in, but was forced to withdraw to focus on his recovery from a back injury.
Houston Rockets superstar James Harden, who played a key role in the team that bagged the world title last year, will also participate in the minicamp along with reigning Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry and Golden State Warriors teammates Klay Thompson.
Meanwhile, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who was one of the final cuts last year, confirmed to CBS Sports that he will not travel to Las Vegas next month.
"I did it the last few summers and last summer I didn't make it," Lillard said. "I don't know why I would go. After I got cut last summer, I don't think I'm a part of it."
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