It’s official. Three Thunder players have qualified for the 2012 Team USA Olympic team. Oklahoma City will be well represented in London later this month. How represented? Very. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the first team ever to have three players selected for the national team. Many teams have had two, including Oklahoma City in 2010 for the World Championships.
James Harden stole the spot above Eric Gordon in today’s scrimmage. Seemed that Harden is just a better offensive player, and that’s what really gave him the nod over Gordon. Not to knock Gordon, but it’s obvious that Harden is the much better player.
Westbrook was a lock when Derrick Rose went down, unfortunately, with an ACL injury in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Durant was a lock after he sealed the World Championships victory in 2010. Where Durant had one of the best national tournaments for a player in the history of national tournaments.
Expect Durant to be a starter and a key component in the team. Westbrook and Harden will be key roles off the bench. Nothing new for Harden though.
Let’s not forget that Serge Ibaka will play for Spain. Oklahoma City will be the most represented team in the 2012 London Olympics.
The full Team USA roster:
G – Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
G – James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
G – Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
G – Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets
G – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
F – Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
F – LeBron James, Miami Heat
F – Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers
F – Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
F – Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
F – Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
C – Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
