Fansided

Team USA minicamp roster revealed

ByJosh Hill|
February 15, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Eastern Conference forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (23) dribbles against Western Conference guard Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers (3) during the second half of the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
February 15, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Eastern Conference forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (23) dribbles against Western Conference guard Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers (3) during the second half of the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Team USA minicamp roster has been revealed, and the first step towards picking the 2016 Rio Olympics roster has been taken. 

We are still a year away from the Rio Olympics, but already nations are preparing their best for the competitions that lie ahead. One of the most exciting summer olympic events is basketball — an event that America has dominated at over recent years.

The run to gold at the London Olympics back in 2012 was so magical that it has garnered debate about whether or not that team was better than the 1992 Dream Team. It appears that once again we’re going to have a stunning roster of talent, as the first look at the minicamp roster is our first step towards finding out who will represent America as part of Team USA in 2016.

USA Basketball released the minicamp roster on Thursday afternoon:

This is going to eventually be sliced down to just a roster of 12 players for the 2016 Rio Olympics, but that’s not something that is going to happen until much later on in the process. What this really is, is nothing more than a roll call sheet to see who is interested in playing for team USA next summer.

Names like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony might end up being left off if they don’t want to play, as there is some doubt as to whether or not LeBron and the older players want to go for another gold medal before they have to allow the younger players to take over.

That time might be now, but we won’t know until the rosters start to get finalized. Right now, all that is happening is the minicamp and not everyone is going to be attending that. What this could be more viewed as is a learning process for the young players on the roster.

Anthony Davis took leaps forward in his game last season, as did DeMarcus Cousins, and many attribute their involvement in the Team USA minicamp as the reason for this. Just being around that many great players alongside Coach K makes everyone better, and this is going to be good news for those watching the carers of Jimmy Butler, Michael Carter-Williams and DeAndre Jordan — all players who need to have huge years this season to ensure they’re going to be stars for years to come.

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