10 months ago
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USA Basketball chief Grant Hill hopes the memories of London can inspire LeBron James and Co to Olympic glory in Paris this summer.
America’s NBA superstars will play two games at the O2 Arena in July to fine tune their preparations for the Olympics.
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Times Newspapers LtdUSA will take on South Sudan on July 20 and Germany on July 22 at the same south London venue where they won gold 12 years ago.
The team will then dash across to France in their bid for a fifth straight Olympic gold medal.
USA Basketball managing director Hill said: “We’ve had great history with USA basketball in London, winning the gold medal in the 2012 Olympic Games there.
“We have some fantastic opponents – South Sudan and the reigning world champions Germany.
“We have a chance to really get ourselves ready and fine tune as we make our way to France.
“Part of London’s appeal as well is the close proximity to France, but there’s a great love and anticipation and excitement for the game of basketball, the NBA and for USA basketball.
“Our players will look forward to coming there and playing and getting ourselves ready for what we’re about to expect when we arrive in France.”
The American team for Paris is shaping up to be one of the strongest they’ve ever put out in the Olympics.
USA has won eight of the last nine men’s Olympic basketball gold medals dating back to the Michael Jordan-led ‘Dream Team’ at Barcelona 1992.
The preliminary 41-man talent pool revealed this week included the likes of James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.
A final 12-man roster will be announced at a later date.
Hill added: “It was a tough decision to get it to 41. I thought we’d have fewer names, maybe 30.
“It was very hard to get to 41 and I imagine very difficult to get to 12.
“We’re not at a point yet where we’re ready to announce the roster or who’s made it thus far.
“We’re excited about the overwhelming support and interest, particularly from the guys who have been part of it in the past.”
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