Originally, USA Basketball intended to host a pair of workouts on the weekend of June 27th in Las Vegas that would serve as a final “tryout” where the coaching staff would select a final 12-man Olympic from around 16 invitees. Instead, the staff announced the Olympic roster prior to the camp after keeping a close eye on the final weeks of the NBA season. “The staff really was more interested in getting down so that they can get to work in terms of preparation,” said Managing Director Jerry Colangelo. “We switched our thinking.”
The switch in thinking resulted in an unconventional, creative, and productive mini-camp during which the 2008 Olympian hoop stars gathered for the first time officially as a team. On Saturday, the team met in Las Vegas for a team meeting, medical screening, ball signing and apparel fitting. The next day, the Olympic team had their first practice, gathered for meetings, and posed for photos.
While at the workout, the USA Basketball staff wheeled out a large flat-screen TV and Coach K asked his team to gather around it. The group then watched video of Marvin Gaye performing his memorable and soulful rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” delivered in Los Angeles at the start of the 1983 NBA All-Star Game.
“Instead of having a fight song or whatever, that’s our song,” remarked Coach K. “I wanted them to envision the gold-medal game. It’s August 24 and they’re out on the court, and our anthem — I get chills thinking about it right now — our anthem will be played. And, if we do what we’re supposed to do, then to envision being on that medal stand, and again that national anthem is being played.”
After practice and team photos, the team headed to New Yorklate Saturday night. Despite some travel delays, the group still made it to the House of Hoops, a Nike basketball museum that includes an exhibit celebrating past players, Olympic moments and the current Olympic team.
“We finally got in at midnight and went from Newark to Harlem,” explained Coach K. “There were a bunch of people waiting for us … It’s about 12:30 at night and we go into a museum (the House of Hoops) that Nike has made. Outside, you don’t think it’s anything, then you go inside and it was unbelievable. There was a huge wall with the American flag and 350 pairs of shoes. There were pictures and displays of the past Olympics. There were displays of our team and two amazing pictures — one of Kobe and one of LeBron. And the guys were presented their uniforms in beautiful boxes.”
Said Chris Bosh aloud as he was presented his uniform, “Wow. I’m beginning to understand just how big this thing is.”
In the morning, the group spoke with media from all over the world before assembling on a private yacht. During a harbor sail, the team posed for photos in front of the Statue of Liberty and visited Ellis Island.
“There were people from all over the world doing interviews,” described Coach K. “Then you go on a ferry, guys are all dressed in suits and we stop by Ellis Island, they take a picture of the team, in suits and uniform. It’s like seeing it and feeling it and, personally for me, my grandfather came through Ellis Island. I was telling our [Duke] campers Tuesday night about dreaming and imagination. And I said, ‘Can you imagine my grandfather, with his suitcases, talking to the guy next to him and saying you know what, my grandson is going to be the coach of the U.S. national team.’ And the other guy says, ‘Is this guy nuts? He should get on the boat and go back.’ But literally, I think of stuff like that — like how the heck does that happen? How lucky are you?’”
After sailing around New York, Team USA headed to Rockefeller Center for a pep rally and fan celebration presented by Nike and hosted by TV personality Kevin Frazier. A special USA Basketball court was installed in place of the famed skating rink, and hundreds of children and fans huddled around. The Olympians greeted their fans and unveiled their uniforms, featuring Nike’s state-of-the-art Swift System of Dress, for the first time publically.
When Colangelo and Coach K took control of the program for a three-year period, their immediate and primary goal was to “elevate the perception people have of USA Basketball and change the culture,” according to Colangelo. “This is a team we believe is together, they’re focused, we’re on a mission, and we want people to jump on and be supportive and enjoy this.”
Fans clearly had a great time at Rockefeller Center, cheering as the team was introduced, chanting “MVP” when Kobe Bryant stepped on the court, erupting when LeBron James embraced a group of kids in the crowd, and excitedly following a game of U-S-A (shortened version of HORSE) between Chris Paul/Deron Williams and Michael Redd/Tayshaun Prince. After the Rockefeller Center extravaganza, the group concluded the trip with additional media sessions at New York’s Plaza Hotel, wrapping up a mini-camp that set the stage for everything the Olympic journey ahead represents.
“This experience that I’ve had has been unbelievable,” said LeBron James. “This is something that I will tell my kids’ kids, once I get older. And to be able to tell them about a gold medal that I won in 2008 would be the icing on the cake.”
Said Coach K, “I thought the many things that happened this week gave them a deeper sense of who they’re representing, what they’re a part of. They already had a pretty deep understanding, but you can’t go through all the things we’ve gone through this weekend and not feel a little bit deeper with commitment, pride and a sense of purpose for what we’re supposed to do.”
