So many of the top-level players showed an interest in returning for another go-round with the U.S. national basketball team after its gold-medal run in the Olympics last summer. But that was then.

In about two years, when the team is forming up for another long run at it, I’m not so sure they’re all going to want to go. But if they do, it will be because the coaching staff made it such a pleasurable experience. It’s a great move to bring him back and I’m a little surprised he was willing, given the time commitment. Kudos to all the coaches, including the Blazers’ Nate McMillan, for the time they’re going to put in again.

Mike Krzyzewski did more for his legacy coaching those NBA players in the Olympics than anything he’s done in college. It’s so difficult for college coaches to grasp the pro mentality — and respect it. Coach K did that. It was a very impressive performance.

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Tags: Coach K, Dwight Jaynes, U.S. Olympic basketball

The Oregonian wrote today what everyone has known for days now, that Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge will not be attending that Olympic camp in Las Vegas.

Ostensibly, it’s because neither have signed contract extensions. But what everyone is missing is, if you’re Brandon Roy, even if you’ve got a five-year deal in your back pocket, you don’t go to this camp. No way. What, you’re going to go work out against the likes of (and yes, these guys are all going to be there) Thaddeus Young, Anthony Randolph, Jerryd Bayless, Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver for a week?

Geesh, I assume Brandon Roy has already separated himself from that sort of riff-raff. 

There are now 23 players scheduled to be there, but even though they’ve said they would play again the next time around do you see LeBron or Kobe on the list? Of course not. D-Wade? Chris Paul? Nope. This camp is for the guys trying to fill the back half of that Olympic roster. While Aldridge would increase his chances of making the team by being there, Roy is at the level already where if he’s going to be named to the team he’s not going to need any tryout camp to do it.

The NBA knows what he can do. If they don’t want him on the team, no tryout camp is going to help him.

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Tags: Brandon Roy, Dwight Jaynes, LaMarcus Aldridge, U.S. Olympic basketball

Rudy Fernandez apparently will be announced today as the final participant in the NBA’s dunk contest during All-Star Weekend. I’ve got an idea for you, Rudy — a prop you can use on your first dunk.

Get one of the other participants in the contest, oh, maybe a guy by the name of Dwight Howard, to go stand under the rim while you slam it down in his grill, OK? (By the way, this famous dunk came off a defensive switch by the USA team in the Olympics, with poor Howard, the USA center, trying to keep up with Rudy on the way to the basket. What kind of pick-and-roll defense is that? What was Howard doing trying to chase Rudy down? Hmm, guess who the defensive coach for the U.S. team was?)

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Tags: Dwight Howard, Dwight Jaynes, Nate McMillan, NBA slam-dunk contest, Rudy Fernandez, U.S. Olympic basketball