Bryant heads U.S. basketball team to Beijing Olympics

 NBA Commissioner David Stern presents the 2007/2008 NBA Most Valuable Player Award to the Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant before Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference semi-finals basketball series between the Lakers and the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles, California May 7, 2008. Kobe Bryant from Lakers will spearhead the 12-man USA Olympic men’s basketball team announced on Monday in Chicago for the Beijing Games this August. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

NBA’s MVP Kobe Bryant from Lakers will spearhead the 12-man USA Olympic men’s basketball team announced on Monday in Chicago for the Beijing Games this August.

Lebron James (Cleveland), Dwyane Wade (Miami), second time Olympians, and Olympic debutant Chris Paul (New Orleans) were also included in the squad, which the USA Olympic Committee hopes to capture the gold medal in Beijing after a bronze-medal showing in Athens four years ago.

They were joined by Carmelo Anthony (Denver), Jason Kidd (Dallas), Dwight Howard (Orlando), Michael Redd (Milwaukee), Deron Williams (Utah), Carlos Boozer (Utah), Chris Bosh (Toronto) and Tayshaun Prince (Detroit).

Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski is head coach of the USA team. Serving as assistant coaches are Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim, New York Knicks head mentor Mike D’Antoni and Portland Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.