From Deseret News archives:
Coach K believes USA superstars are ready to buy into team concept
And what if those parts include the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and the talented Utah Jazz twosome of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer?
"There's not one person one coach or one player who should be dominant," said Krzyzewski, the Duke University coach tabbed to lead Team USA at the '08 Beijing Summer Games. "The team is dominant."
When FIBA and Olympic basketball revamped its rules to allow professionals (read: NBA pros) to participate in the Summer Games, the United States' "Dream Team" sparked a three-straight gold-medal run for the Americans '92 in Barcelona, '96 in Atlanta and '00 in Sydney.
But the U.S. hasn't had its way with the rest of the world since a sixth-place finish at the 2002 World Championships, a 5-3 record and the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and third-place honors at the 2006 Worlds.
And Krzyzewski, who was involved from the start, knows his players' roots as well as their egos.
"They need to be superstars on their individual (NBA) teams. They're the center of the wheel everything emanates from them," he said following the team's first workout in Las Vegas last month.
"But on this team, they're not not one of them is that," he added. "I talk about that, but they get it. There's no 'I want to be the center of the wheel' or 'I'm jealous' they have nothing like that. These guys are terrific."
Krzyzewski senses Joe Fan has a hard time believing that.
"It goes against what normal people do or how people who are not superstars think that a superstar should act," said Krzyzewski, admitting the players' selflessness and coming together goes against perceived stereotype.
"I expected professionalism and cooperation and I've seen it at a highest level," said Krzyzewski. "I expected it it's just even better than I expected, and that says a lot about these guys."
Recent comments
Was there any selfishness on any other Dream Teams???
I don't know...
juandixonformvp | July 28, 2008 at 12:50 a.m.
The US Team is focused. "D" is on, and though they're not as "big"...
Rafael "Brazilian Guy" Godinho | July 27, 2008 at 12:02 a.m.
I really hope they represent USA well. If they can do that, it would...
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