The United States' men's basketball team will begin the journey to defend their gold medal on Sunday, July 29 against France.
Basketball's international governing body, FIBA, confirmed the schedule of the men's and women's tournament at the 2012 London Olympics. Each of the 12 teams will play five games. The top eight teams will move on to the quarterfinals. Should the Americans make it to the Gold Medal game, as they are expected to, it will be played Sunday Aug. 12.
Nine teams have already qualified for the Olympics, they include: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Great Britain, Spain, Tunisia and USA. Twelve countries will compete in a qualifying tournament for the final three spots. These countries are Angola, Dominican Republic, Greece, Jordan, Korea, Lithuania, Macedonia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Russia and Venezuela.
After France, the U.S. will play Tunisia and Argentina. Their other two opponents in the preliminary round will be determined by the qualifying tournament.
The finalists to make the Olympic roster are all current NBA players with the lone exception being Anthony Davis, who left Kentucky this year after winning the national championship in order to enter the draft. The list of players is: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers); Chris Bosh (Miami Heat); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Anthony Davis (Kentucky); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder);Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets).
Of these, four players have been lost to injury and will not play. Dwight Howard had back surgery towards the end of the season, Chauncey Billups tore his Achilles tendon, Derrick Rose suffered a torn ACL, and LaMarcus Alridge is out with an injured hip.
The team will be coached by Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistants Jim Boeheim, Nate McMillan and Mike D'Antoni. Krzyzewski led the U.S. to the gold medal four years ago in Beijing. He has said that this will be his last time coaching at the Olympics.
The final 12-man roster will be announced July 7.