AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James will wear the red, white and
blue this summer after all.
Cleveland's All-Star forward ended uncertainty about his status
with the U.S. national team on Tuesday night by saying he will play
in next month's FIBA America's Tournament, where the Americans will
try to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.
"I'm going to play," James told The Associated Press. "I've
had enough time off, and knowing my body more than anybody, I'm
ready to play. I don't know how much I'm going to play or how
extensively, but I'll be ready."
For several months, James had said he was "50-50" about
playing for Team USA this summer. He and his girlfriend recently
had their second son, and with the Cavaliers making it to the NBA
finals, James may have wanted some extra time off after playing
more than 100 games since last October.
However, the 22-year-old, who played on the U.S. Olympic team at
the 2004 Athens Games and for the U.S. squad that won a bronze
medal at last summer's world championships, intends to honor his
three-year commitment with USA Basketball.
"It was a long and tough year," James said. "But for me, if I
make a commitment, I want to keep it. I'm a loyal guy. I committed
to three years and I'm going to hold up my end of the bargain."
James' decision was welcomed news for U.S. Olympic coach Mike
Krzyzewski, who toasted James before a kickoff dinner preceding a
three-day summit involving James' corporate business partners.
"I know people don't realize the commitment that these guys are
making," the Duke University coach said. "Literally, with the
playoffs, you play well over 100 games in a season, so they give up
a lot and when they give up parts of three summers, I ultimately
respect their commitment. It's a big-time thing and I need to run
things in a way that's respectful of that commitment."
The U.S. team will have a three-day minicamp from July 20-22 in
Las Vegas. Three weeks later, the Americans will resume practice in
preparation for the 10-team tournament that begins on Aug. 22.
Two teams from that tournament will qualify for the Beijing
Games.
So far, USA Basketball has commitments from Kobe Bryant, Jason
Kidd, Carlos Boozer, Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams, Mike Miller,
Tayshaun Prince, Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, Michael Redd,
Greg Oden and Kevin Durant.
Miami's Dwyane Wade will not play in the summer tournaments
following shoulder surgery, but the Heat star told Krzyzewski on
Monday that he will report to the mini-camp and wants to help out
during practices in August.
"Dwyane called me and said, 'Coach I'm one of the captains, and
it means a lot," Krzyzewski said. "That's a heck of a thing."
James' waffling a few months back was met with a stern response
from Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo, who said James
could be jeopardizing his status as a core member of the team for
Beijing.
Playing in China is vitally important to James' business
interests as well. He has become one of that nation's most popular
players and some of his endorsement sponsors -- Nike, Coca-Cola and
Upper Deck to name a few -- would like to tap deeper into that
overseas market.
James has been studying some Mandarin in preparation for the
Olympics.
The U.S. team finished third in Japan last summer, another
humbling result for the Americans who can no longer claim to be the
world's best at basketball. James, though, is confident the new
additions to the team will help restore U.S pride in a sport it
once dominated.
"Kobe's back. We got J. Kidd, Chauncey," James said excitedly.
"We've definitely got a group that knows how to win. We'll be
ready to play."
And Krzyzewski is ready to coach them to a gold medal.
"Chauncey, Jason, Kobe, Amare, those are huge pluses for our
team and also because their egos are at a place where it doesn't
have to be about them," he said.
While watching the Cavaliers' first run to the NBA finals --
which ended with them being swept by San Antonio -- Krzyzewski was
impressed with James' improvement throughout the playoffs.
"There are certain things that you can only learn from
experiencing them," he said. "I thought the Detroit series for
him was huge in that he took so much crap for the first two games.
"But instead of putting his head between his legs, he responded
with four unbelievable games."