Subscribe Feed (RSS)According to this story from Scott Howard-Cooper, Brandon Roy has put himself in jeopardy of not being considered for a spot on the USA team, mainly through a lack of communication, it seems:
The Trail Blazers All-Star guard, once among the logical additions to the next Dream Team, has increasingly distanced himself from consideration with a lack of communication that threatens a potential roster spot for the 2010 world championships in Turkey and the 2012 Olympics in London, people close to the situation report.
I’ve always felt that Roy wasn’t really too interested in being on that team. Some guys would rather have the summer to recuperate from the NBA grind, placing the NBA regular season ahead of the national team in importance.
But Roy says he is interested in playing:
“It’s on me,” Roy said in response. “I don’t blame them at all. I think it’s something I have to at least call and say that whenever the next team event is, I want to be there. I think that’s what they want to see out of me. I totally understand and I agree with what they’re saying. I have to kind of take that next step to show them I want to be a part of the team.”
With Nate McMillan on the coaching staff again, I would think Roy has a good shot at making the squad if he wishes to be there — particularly this summer for the world championships, when a lot of the Olympians may not play. I would think there are some Trail Blazer fans who would just as soon see him sit and rest during the summer.
Tags: basketball, Brandon Roy, Dwight Jaynes, Portland Trail Blazers, USA National team
every time i’ve watched him talk about team USA he tries as hard as possible not to offend anyone while making it seem that he has no plans or desire whatsoever to play in the near future.
(Phone rings)
Nate: “Hello”
Jerry: “Yo Nate! Watsup!”
Nate: “Nuttin doin, just practice, you know how we do.”
Jerry: “Yeah, yeah, I know how you like to get after it.”
Jerry continues: “So Nate, was wondering about your boy Roy.”
Nate: “What about him?”
Jerry: “What’s he thinking about Team USA?”
Nate: “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him about it.”
Jerry: “You haven’t what? Aren’t you his coach?”
Nate: “Yes I am, but I don’t talk to him about his future plans much.”
Jerry: “You mean to tell me you have no targets, no plans, no vision of the future Brandon Roy and his impact on the game.”
Nate: “nope.”
Jerry: “Umm… about that three year commitment that you just re-upped with us back in July….”
This “taking his wife’s last name” ESPN wanna-be chump is jumping on the let’s stir up Blazer angst bandwagon that Marc Spears pulled out of the barn. He saw that Roy turned down a Team USA invite this summer and tried to draw conclusions. Had he looked at the bigger picture, he would have realized that Roy was in the middle of contract negotiations. Had Roy been seriously injured during the camp, it could have been seriously detrimental to his financial future. The same goes for LaMarcus. Now that Roy has locked down his bread, look for him to get more involved.
Calm down Jake… it’s not like that… both sides admitted in the story that communications are a problem there. Roy admitted it. He’s been very reluctant to show up at Team USA camp even if it’s just to listen. Don’t blame the messenger.
I am not so sure Roy’s body is made to hold up to the extra practice and play. We all might be better off if he just says thanks but no thanks.
It is about trying to win an NBA championship now. He is from Seattle not Stalingrad so the World Championships and the Olympics probably do not mean as much to him.
Bad idea, Roy can’t even get through an 82 game season without some form of knee, heel, foot ect. ect. injury. If there is one player on this team that needs his time off it’s Roy for sure.
I’m not sure the National Team would be a good thing for Roy. He’d probably whine that he wasn’t getting the ball enough.
Yep, I hope he skips it, too. I want his Blazer career to last as long as possible. The national team will win with or without him.
For national noteriety, it would benefit Roy if he played for team USA. They world would see what we get to experience each season.
However, Roy plays the game with no abandon. He is all the way in or not and thus he is always prone to be a banged up. He needs those summers off to rest.
He has tremendous loyalty to this team and city and I admire that about him. I am supportive of him either way he chooses, but honestly I am happy that he has thus far not accepted any Team USA offers
if he can swing it physically i think it would be a great idea. I and most blazer fans would love to watch Roy on the international level. and seeing what it did for guys like melo, lebron and chris bosh, it would help his game, and help the relationship with nate. go for it b roy, and aldridge should at least get a shot
I get a sense Roy values quiet summers with his family more than being away from them and spending another couple of months on basketball. Good for him – those kids will be grown up before he knows it.
Count me in as one of those that hopes he doesn’t play.