USA Basketball has trimmed it's mens team down to 13 players as it heads to Spain to train for the World Championships, which start later this month. The team includes Lamar Odom of the Lakers, Eric Gordon of the Clippers, and former UCLA Bruins Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook.
"It’s always difficult to have to pare down and make these decisions because each of these young men have given their time and energy to be part of USA Basketball," said Colangelo. "The decision made was predicated on having less players to work with and play during the upcoming exhibition games which will help in terms of our final preparations. So rather than bring 14 or 15 players we will for now go with 13 because we have yet to make a final determination on 12."
The team will practice in Spain this week, then play three exhibition games: against Lithuania on August 21, against Spain on August 22, and against Greece on August 25.
One more roster cut still needs to be made before the World Championships:
The official 12-man USA roster that will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, which will be played Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey, must be submitted to FIBA at the technical meeting that normally is held the day prior to the start of the competition.
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