The Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant has a goal of becoming a Gold Medalist at the 2008 Olympics. This year’s Olympic team has been put together with some of the best players in the league. The starting 5 includes:
Jason Kidd
- Averaged 10.1 assists this season to rank fourth in NBA, but scored career-low 10.8 points per game and was unable to lift Dallas past first round of playoffs after midseason trade from New Jersey.
- Selected five times to All-NBA first team and four times to All-Defensive first team.
Picked for nine All-Star games, including five starts.
His 100 career triple-doubles are easily the most of any active player, and he averaged a triple-double in 2007 playoffs. - Has led his teams to playoff appearances in 12 straight seasons, including trips to NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.
- In 2006-07, joined Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as only players in league history to average at least 13.0 points, 9.0 assists and 8.0 rebounds.
- Placed among NBA's top 10 in steals in nine seasons.
- Finished as runner-up in MVP voting in 2002 and was fifth in 1999.
- Became fourth player in league history to lead NBA in assists in three straight seasons (1999-2001), then finished second in 2001-02 before leading league the next two seasons.
- Has never averaged fewer than 7.7 assists through his first 14 seasons.
Kobe Bryant
- Claimed first NBA MVP award this season after leading Lakers to best record in Western Conference.
- Was league's second-leading scorer with 28.3 points per game while averaging 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
- Helped Lakers reach NBA finals for first time since 2004, but held to average of 21.3 points over final three games in losing series to Boston.
- Finished third in voting for the 2006-07 NBA MVP award after leading league with 31.6 points per game and topping Lakers with 5.4 assists a game.
- Led league in scoring in 2005-06 with 35.4 points per game, including 81 against Toronto on Jan. 22, 2006.
- Named to All-NBA first team in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008, to second team in 2000 and 2001, and third team in 1999 and 2005.
- Named to NBA All-Defensive first team six times, including last three seasons.
- Appeared and started in 10 All-Star games, getting named MVP twice.
- Won NBA championships with Lakers in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
- Holds NBA record for most made 3-point field goals in one game with 12, and shares NBA record for most 3-pointers made in one half with eight.
LeBron James - Led NBA in scoring for first time in 2007-08,
- Led Cavaliers to franchise's first trip to NBA Finals in 2007 and placed fifth in league MVP voting.
- Joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in league history to average at least 27.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in three consecutive seasons.
- Helped Cleveland to consecutive playoff berths after the team failed to qualify in seven straight seasons.
- Named to All-NBA first team in 2006, to second team in 2005 and 2007.
- Has averaged more than 27 points in three straight seasons.
- Selected to four All-Star teams, getting named MVP after his 29-point performance in the 2006 game and leading the Eastern Conference with 28 points in 2007.
- Became the youngest player ever to reach 3,500 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists, and is youngest to score 40 in one game.
- Won Rookie of the Year in 2004 after finishing in top five among first-year players in all major statistical categories.
- Scored a U.S. Olympic qualifying-record 31 points as the U.S. beat Argentina to win the gold medal at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.
Carmelo Anthony - Scoring average dropped to 25.7 per game this season, his lowest since 2004-05 but still fourth-best in NBA.
- Has led Denver to playoffs in each of his five seasons in NBA, but has never advanced past first round.
- Named All-NBA third team in 2006 and 2007.
- Averaged 28.9 points to rank second in the league in 2006-07, and added 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
- Picked as starter for 2008 All-Star game and reserve for 2007, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 25 minutes.
- Has averaged more than 20 points in each of his four full seasons in the NBA after spending only one season at Syracuse.
- Helped Denver reach the playoffs in all four seasons after the team failed to qualify in eight straight seasons.
- Became third-fastest player in league history to score 2,000 points, and second-youngest to score 40 in one game.
- Selected unanimously for 2003-04 All-Rookie first team and finished second to LeBron James in Rookie of the Year voting.
- Was second-leading scorer in 2007 FIBA Americas Championship with 21.2 points per game as he shot 61.3 percent from the field and 57.8 percent from 3-point range.
Dwight Howard - Howard Won the 2008 NBA slam Dunk contest
- Howard was selected for the 2008 All- Star Team
- Howard is has averaged 10.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and Field goal percentage of .759 in the Olympic preliminary games.
Olympic Roster:
09 Wade, Dwyane
15 Anthony, Carmelo
06 James, LeBron
10 Bryant, Kobe
11 Howard, Dwight
08 Redd, Michael
12 Bosh, Chris
13 Paul, Chris
07 Williams, Deron
04 Boozer, Carlos
14 Prince, Tayshaun
05 Kidd, Jason
The U.S. has a record of 5-0 in the preliminary games so far. The U.S. team’s goal is to bring the Gold back to the United States.
You can stay up to date with results of all Olympic Basketball games at
www.sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/basketball/results/BKM400/2?is_medal=
http://www.usabasketball.com/seniormen/2008/stats/USA.HTM
No comments:
Post a Comment