USA Basketball: Just don't get hurt

As much as worrying about Olympics-related injuries, Sloan is also wary of pushing Olympians too hard and too much after the Games where they might get injured in camp or exhibitions or come back emotionally drained.

Williams doesn't see his Olympics debut as a potential danger, especially after playing for the United States at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championships.

"Even last year, I never played more than 17 minutes a game because our team was so deep and so talented," he said. "I work out hard anyways, about two to three times a day, so it's just the same thing — only against better competition."

One advantage Sloan admits seeing in Olympic participation is increased experience, associations with fellow superstars and competing against the world's best.

Kirilenko said it isn't hard to return to the rigors of a long, demanding NBA season after a summer of international competition.

"Even more than that, it helps you a little bit because even before the training came, you come back in shape, in game shape — you kind of feel already in the rhythm," the Russian star said.

He cited last fall, when he returned to Jazz camp after leading Russia to the 2007 European Championships title. "This year, I was feeling so great in the preseason camp — game-shape-wise," he said.

Sloan always holds out hopes for the Summer Games' silver lining.

"Some of these players, maybe all of a sudden the light goes on in their head and they come out and go through the summer and work real hard and maybe they come back and play better — that's the only way you can do it," the Jazz coach said.

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