There's a lot of excitement surrounding the recent announcement of the USA men's basketball team that will compete in the London Olympics.
But you may want to take a long, good look at this team. It might be the last time a collection of talent such as this will play in the Olympics as David Stern and the NBA are taking a long look at altering the NBA's participation in the quadrennial affair. The Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan took the time to break it all down.
"I think we got a lot out of the Olympics," Stern said last month. "We helped grow the game. The result has been extraordinary. But I think it's appropriate to step back and take stock of where we're going."
Stern wants to implement a 23-and-under rule for Olympics participation, leaving the team in the hands of fresh-faced NBA players and college kids.
The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant doesn't think anything should change.
"I hope it continues to go that way, because it's good for the game," Bryant said. "You put your best players on that stage and you want to see the best players go against each other. That's what it's all about."
Bryant took it even further into his own belief that owners should actually prefer Olympic participation over summertime freedom to play anywhere since within the Olympics you're almost in an NBA setting.
"Here you're playing against the best guys, you have treatment around the clock, your [NBA] coaching staff can always come sit in the stands and view practice," Bryant said. "To me, playing on an Olympic basketball team is actually better if you're an owner."
For more on the Lakers, please visit Silver Screen and Roll. And for complete coverage of everything leading up to the summer games, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated 2012 Olympics hub.