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• DeMarcus Cousins left off Team USA roster, Jerry Colangelo says he needs to grow up

  July 08, 2012 by SteveDel

  

  The 12 finalists for Team USA’s London Olympic roster have been set, and Mike Krzyzewski and company will be bringing only one center along with them. With multiple injuries to big men like Dwight Howard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Bosh and Anthony Davis, we wondered if someone like DeMarcus Cousins might have a shot at making a team that is looking thin up front. Cousins felt as though he would be a lock for the team if he made the Select Team, but he wound up being wrong. USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo explained why on Saturday.

  “He needs to mature as a person (and) as a player if he’s going to have an outstanding NBA career,” Colangelo said according to USA TODAY. “Before there’s discussion about him being part of our program, he has a lot of building to do. … He has a lot of growing up to do.”

  Cousins has always had a reputation of having an attitude issue, but he seemed to be having more fun in Sacramento this year. Apparently he has not done enough to prove to Colangelo that he has matured. Krzyzewski praised Cousins more when asked about the decision to leave him off the team, but you have to assume he agrees at least somewhat with Colangelo’s assessment. The fact that the only center Team USA is taking with them to London is Tyson Chandler says a lot about the coaching staff’s opinion on Cousins.

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• DeMarcus Cousins wants to play for Team USA

  April 27, 2012 by SteveDel

  

  As the London Olympics draw nearer, a lack of big bodies is becoming more of a pressing concern for Team USA. Dwight Howard is currently injured and Andrew Bynum has made it clear that he would rather rest up for next season than compete in the Olympics. Mike Krzyzweski and company are in need of front court help, and DeMarcus Cousins says he would be honored to provide it for them.

  “I mean, who wouldn’t want to play for Team USA?” Cousins said according to the Sacramento Bee. “Go over there and represent your country. I would love to do it.”

  Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo says that the team for London will be chosen from the 16 remaining players who are healthy and willing and made the preliminary roster bac in January. Someone like Cousins could get an invite to Las Vegas for the Select Team — which competes against Team USA in practices and scrimmages — but Cousins is confident that if he goes to Vegas he’ll wind up on the team.

  “I feel like if I did go play for the Select Team, I probably would get a spot (on the Olympic team),” he said with confidence. “Honestly … but we’ll see.”

  The team needs centers, but typically the players who compete on the Select Team are considered for future Team USA rosters, not the upcoming team. Despite some character issues during his first NBA season, Cosins lightened up a bit this past season and was not an issue off the court. He also put up solid numbers as he averaged over 18 points and 11 rebounds per game. It’s unlikely at this point that Coach K and Colangelo would add him, but with Howard and Bynum out of the fold anything is possible.

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