USA Men's Senior National Team Quote(s) of the Day

USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University
On what he expects to accomplish during training camp:
We�ve gone long and we�ve gone very hard. We are trying to pick up the defense. We think we have a team that can score points so we want to make sure that we can defend. We did a good job last summer, but the competition will be much higher this summer.

	Watching the 1992 Olympics and the 1992 Team, I always thought that I would love to have that opportunity to be on the team and win a gold medal, and I had that all come true in 2000. That was something on my list that I was able to check off. Now, to have a second opportunity to do it all over again is a thrill. ~ Jason Kidd

It�s simple. They want to do this and they know what it will take. They know they can play really good defense and they have to practice against different situations so that they are on the same team when defending. Anything you do defensively has to be five on five. No matter how hard one guy works, if five guys aren�t coordinated and working together, you have a chance to break down. They know each other, trust one another and that�s what they�re working towards.

I expect us to be a very hard-working team on defense and a very unselfish team on offense.

On Jason Kidd:
First of all he is going to be a Hall of Famer and he is one of the elite point guards in the history of our game, so he has everyone�s respect. He has knowledge and institutional memory of how the game should be played in different situations that these guys want to tap into. And he is the only guy to have won a gold medal, so maybe he has the road map that we need to follow to win it. For those reasons, it�s easy for everyone to accept him as a leader.

On practicing against the U.S. Select Team:
They have played really well. I think P.J. Carlesimo has done a great job with Jay Triano in getting them set up. We�ve done a lot of situational stuff. What we had in mind was to have ten or 12 guys, where you would have two solid, talented teams that we could play against. You have an assortment of big guys, wings, shooters and point guards and Jerry Colangelo and USA Basketball put together a good team.

Both practices have been hard. Practices don�t get harder and harder; practices are hard. These guys have practiced hard both days, they will continue to practice hard the rest of the week and hopefully we will play hard on Friday against Canada.

What should the fans expect to see on Friday night?
A team that�s proud to represent their country and playing hard. This is our first step towards our goal of winning the gold medal.

Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
Why are you such a good international player?
I don't know. I have no idea. I just come out to compete and to play hard. I have never thought I have to be the best international player. I just want to do the best and wherever that leads me, that's fine with me.

Playing in 2004, getting the experience, really helped me out a lot. It opened my eyes to a lot of things. Over the last four years, I have learned the international game better--spacing, what I can do and cannot do and what it takes to get there. Just being part of 2004 helped me a lot.

You and LeBron have become vocal leaders:
Yeah, we motivate one another, that's for sure. But it's not just about him and me. We get on one another--the entire team. We point out what we've done wrong and support one another as well. This is a great situation. In
2004 we were really just coming into the NBA. We're more experienced now. We have a better idea of what needs to be done and how to do it. We didn't really know what to expect four years ago. We do today.

What makes this team better?
Experience and guys really want to be here. Not just guys who wanted to be part of just the Olympic team. I think the three year commitment made a difference. We have a team of guys who wanted to be here.

Are you looking forward to playing in Macao and Shanghai before you get to Beijing for the Olympics?
Yes I am. But first I'm looking to play Friday against Canada.It will be good to come down the court against someone other than ourselves. Going to Macao is going to be fun and I look forward to playing in front of their
fans. The same for Shanghai.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
On the maturation process of this team:
We�re doing well, it�s a day-by-day thing for us. We just take it day by day, work hard, which is what we�re doing, and get better.

What are you learning more and more about your Olympic teammates?
We got a chance to get to know everyone really well last summer. This summer is just improving upon that. Everyone is working extremely hard and is really focused on what we have to do and works hard. That�s important.

The team�s three-year commitment is finally coming to fruition:
It is, it�s right around the corner. We understand the sense of urgency and we�re all excited about it.

When you talk about the sense of urgency, are you talking about redemption for American basketball?
No question. We�re playing for our country and there�s a lot of pride that goes into that for us and our fans alike. We understand the significance, we understand what�s at stake and that�s why everyone�s working extremely hard.

You and your teammates have talked about getting the gold medal back?
Yes, we have. It�s something we remind ourselves of every single day. We have to make sure we don�t skip steps, that we work hard everyday and do the fundamental things that will ensure victory for us.

Is that something that falls on your shoulder as one of the leaders of this team?
We have kind of divvied up how we lead. Jason�s been here, he�s been on USA teams before and he�s vocal. LeBron�s very vocal. He�s young but he�s been there before. Me, they know I don�t really say much unless it�s �get your [butt] in gear,� the same line I use with the Lakers.

What kind of adjustments do you need to make from the NBA to international basketball?
It�s more physical internationally. They let you get away with a lot more, particularly off the ball. You can really be physical and bump guys, use your strength. That�s something we�re going to have to adjust to.

You�re use to having a target on your back in the NBA, is that target even bigger internationally?
Yeah, everybody�s gunning for us. Just because of the hype that surrounds this team everybody�s going to naturally be up to play against us. We�re going to be up too. We�re excited about this, we�re ready.

On the USA�s preliminary round pool:
It�s going to be stiff competition, as in every pool. Spain�s the defending world champions, Greece has had success against us in the past, Germany, who has players we�re very familiar with. Angola, China both have players we�re familiar with. We have our work cut out for us in this particular pool.

What are you working on here?
Our defense is always top priority. It�s something we continually work on, communicate through and make adjustments to. Our offense kind of takes care of itself. We move the ball, hit the open man, execute well. On defense we have many options and it�s on us to read the offense and see what we can take away.

Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
On the competition in Beijing:
I think we will see a few challenging teams. China, it being in their country, Lithuania, Spain, Argentina, Croatia and Russia. The world is getting better at the game of basketball so there are no easy games.

On what it would mean to achieve a second gold medal:
Watching the 1992 Olympics and the 1992 Team, I always thought that I would love to have that opportunity to be on the team and win a gold medal, and I had that all come true in 2000. That was something on my list that I was able to check off. Now, to have a second opportunity to do it all over again is a thrill.

As long as I can get up and down the court and help these young guys by sharing my experience, I think that I can play at a high level still although I am 35. I still feel that I can contribute to the team.

On being with fellow USA Olympian Dara Torres (Swimming) in Sydney and once again in Beijing:
I�m thrilled. She represents the older group and I�m in that older bracket. Her story is great. Not just for her, but it also shows that if you put your mind to something and work hard, it all pays off. We will be there to support her as much as everyone else to see if she can achieve that gold medal. She�s been an inspiration to me, probably not as much for the younger guys though; they have some time before they get old.

On his commitment to USA Basketball throughout the years:
Any time you can represent your country is an honor. We�ve been blessed to play this wonderful game and this is a small token of giving back in that sense of what this country stands for and to have this opportunity. I would never turn it down. As long as I can play I will always try to play for USA. But knowing that this could be my last time around, I will try to enjoy this as much as possible.

On his teammates designating him as one of the team leaders:
That is a huge compliment, but hopefully that is true for everyone on this team. These guys have set the tone. The twenty-something-year-olds respect and treasure this time and they are setting the tone for years to come with USA Basketball.

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
What�s your role on this team?
I think my role on this team is the same thing, be aggressive in everything I do. At the same time, I think everyone�s minutes are different and here I�m coming off the bench. It�s something that you have to get use to pretty quick. The biggest thing is to just come off the bench with the same energy.

How do you view that battle with Deron Williams for minutes?
I don�t. We�re on the same team. I�m not battling against him to do anything. If we�re all out here battling (against each other) we have a problem if we want to win a gold medal. Right now it�s just whatever it takes to win a gold medal, that�s what I�m going to do.

On LeBron James� mild ankle sprain:
He�ll be alright. I talked to him, he�ll be fine. He rolled his ankle and might be out for a few days but when it comes time to suit up for the Olympics he�ll be ready.

After a long season, how does it feel to get out here and play? Are you fatigued at all?
I feel good. It�s been a long time since we lost in Game 7. I�m excited to be able to be out here and participate in getting the gold medal. I�m good.

Are you going about your training in a different way or is it the same routine?
It�s not the same routine at all because you�re preparing for something totally different. When we play out here we get a lot of wide open jump shots out of penetrating and kicking. During the season you have the ball in your hands a lot more so it�s a different preparation. This right here has been tough to train for but when you�re playing with this group of guys you can�t go wrong.

Your preliminary round is a great group of games. Is that a great way to start the Olympics?
Yeah. I think playing against the top competition is always going to prepare you and it�ll get us ready. It�ll get us mentally prepared for what it�s going to take to win a gold medal.

People talk about the lack of bigs, I know that bothers a lot of guys to hear that. Does that bother you at all?
No, not at all. We�ve got 12 of the best players in the entire world. I don�t care if they put me at the center, we�re going to be just fine. We have a great group of guys right here so I�m not thinking about it.

Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons
On the opportunity to play with the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team:
When you talk about playing with other great guys, especially in our league where it�s tough and competitive for an 82-game season, plus the playoffs, then you get together with the USA team where you play in the summertime for a little over a month, the competition gets a lot tougher. Guys are getting tougher. Things are hard to come by when you are playing against this kind of competition level in practice. We are all in here for the long run. We�ve been together for a couple years now and hopefully our chemistry and everything we�ve worked to put in together will help us out in the long haul.

I let my teammates know all the time how wonderful it is to have the opportunity to play with them and how well they carry themselves on and off the basketball court. My message to them was simply that they have been chosen for a reason. When you talk about 12 guys being selected out of over 300 in our league, it comes down to how they represent themselves, their organization, their family and friends and their country. It�s about how they carry themselves at all times.

You never really have the opportunity to sit back and think about what you have accomplished or what you have done for other people, whether that be your family and your friends or the organization that you play for. I think we go out and do everything to the best of our ability. Whatever comes, we thank God for it, but at the same time we never really sit back and think of how we are representing our country or that we play in the NBA where a lot of people look up to you. Those things I obviously don�t take for granted, but there might be a situation in every blue moon where someone else brings it to my attention how truly fortunate we all are. Those things really set in when someone brings it to your attention, but otherwise you just try your best to go with the flow and progress as a basketball player and as a person.

On sacrificing the chance of being fatigued for the start of the NBA regular season:
I�ve had the opportunity to play into the month of June every year of my career with the Pistons. The Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It doesn�t come around often. There are so many great players and they can choose anyone. When my name was called for this opportunity, it was a no-brainer for me. Whether I will be fatigued after it is all over or not, because when you talk about representing your country, it is a wonderful dream to have realized. We do have a month off before the season, but at the same time that is not on my mind. Any time you have the opportunity to represent your country it is an opportunity and a sacrifice that you are willing to take.

Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks
How much do you love the international 3-point line?
Oh it doesn�t matter whether it�s the NBA line or the FIBA line. I just love to play. It�s a great opportunity to help this team in any way possible, whether it be shooting, whether it be defending. Whatever it is, I�m going to do.

How do you feel right now after going through a long NBA season and now coming out here?
I feel great, I really do. I�ve been training my body, getting my body ready, getting my body together. I feel wonderful.

You�ve got a really long flight ahead of you, what are you going to do on the plane?
I�m going to sleep, play dominoes, read. Obviously these trips are long but it gives you time to communicate with each other and develop a bond.

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Has the 3-year commitment helped this team?
It has helped us tremendously. When everyone first heard about the three year commitment, we all just checked our schedules to see if we could do it. Now that we are almost there, it was a great thing to do. It really built something. It built a family type of atmosphere where everyone got to know one another on the court and off it. That isn't something that happens overnight.

Kevin Durant was just saying that while all of you are NBA All-Stars, you are playing like a true team.
The three-year commitment definitely helps. First of all we play as a team because we know we have to in order to win. And secondly with this process you really get to learn how to play with one another. The small things that
only get known when you spend time working together. And then, take a look at who you are playing with. You want to move the ball, pass it around. There's a lot of talent on this team. And defensively we are a strong team.
On the perimeter you have guys like Jason and Kobe and Chris and those kind of guys. It's a dream to be on this team.

Did not being able to play last summer affect how you prepared for this summer?
I wanted to play. I played in 2004 and also in 2006, but last year I had to get healthy. I really wanted to be out there with the guys. I saw the continuity they had and the excitement they were playing with and I wanted to be part of it, but I had to keep the big picture in mind. And that was to get healthy for the Olympics.

How does this team compare to the Olympic team of 2004?
There's no comparison. And that's nothing against the individual players on that team. This team has been together for three years. It's a matter of readiness. Maybe if you put that team of 2004 together for three years and you might have a different outcome. But they didn't do that. Mr. Colangelo and Coach K have done a great job of putting together this team and creating the right atmosphere and we all appreciate that.

How have the coaches done with their three-year commitment? It wasn't just the players.
First of all, they have done a great job since day one. They all have their own philosophies which have been incorporated into one for this team. Take Mike D'Antoni. His philosophy is to get the ball out of the net and you're gone. Coach McMillan's philosophy os locking down on defense. Coach Boeheim has it with zones from both sides. And Coach K is a combination of everything. Put them all together--and it takes a while to absorb and get better--and you have a nice mix. They have done what we have done as players. They are all stars, but they checked their egos for the team, to hopefully lead this team to great things.

Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
On the final leg of the USA�s training:
We�re feeling good, it�s great to have everybody back. It�s great to be practicing right now. We�re realizing that everybody�s coming together and this is the team that�s going to be together for the next 35, 40 days. It�s going to be a blast, there will be a lot of ups and downs, hopefully more ups than downs but this is the team that�s going to go over there and win the gold.

Is there more anticipation this year, now that you�re finally together for the last time before the Olympics?
It is. That�s what�s so great about it. Like I said, this is the team that�s going to do it. We�re all synched up, we�re all clicked in right now. We realize it�s going to be a tough process but we�re capable of doing it. We�re coming together, meshing well right now as a team and we know that it�s only going to get better as it goes along.

On the USA�s preliminary round pool:
The main thing is that if you want to be the best you have to beat the best. We�re going through some tough teams, but that�s the Olympics. Every game you play, every team is representing is their country. We�re not the only ones. We always talk about how it�s an honor to represent your country, and those teams feel the same way and they might feel that they have more to prove since they�re playing against us. So we know that we�re going to take everybody�s best shot every time we�re on the court and that�s why we have to raise our level of play.

What are you working on this week?
A lot of defense. We know that this team�s not going to have a lot of problems scoring the ball, putting the ball in the basket. Pretty much everybody here is the leading scorer on their team. What we�re working on here is a lot of defense, defending people because I know that�s something some of the previous teams had trouble with.