In a conference call that just began at 3pm, Team USA announced Rajon Rondo will, in fact, be among the 15 finalists on the roster when the camp moves to New York on August 9th.
The 14 other team members are: Chauncey Billups, Tyson Chandler, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Danny Granger, Jeff Green, Andre Iquodala, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Derrick Rose, and Russell Westbrook.
OJ Mayo, Gerald Wallace, JaVale McGee, and Tyreke Evans have been left off the roster.
Congrats to Rajon for making it to the next step.
UPDATE:
Coach K said time and time again on this conference call that the team is going to rely on speed and penetration, mainly because injuries to all their big men have forced them to change their approach. I asked him about Rondo and everything people have said about his unreliable shooting being a hindrance in international play.
I think he's an adequate shooter for us. He did well shooting the ball in the camp. The thing Rondo does for us is he plays with a will to win. He just finds a way to have a positive impact on the game. His will to win is something that I truly admire and we need that. Plus he's a little bit older, not in age as much but with experience because the Celtics have gone so deep. I think we're fortunate to have him
Sounds to me that Rondo is a lock to stick with this team throughout the championships. Like I said earlier today… all the talk about his shooting hurting him in international play is misguided because Team USA isn't putting together the traditional international team. While it's correct to say Rondo doesn't fit the international style of play… it doesn't apply in this case because Team USA, by necessity, is playing style that is perfect for Rajon Rondo.
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