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Duncan says no, Shaq maybe to play US Olympic basketball
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-11 06:16
MIAMI: Shaquille O'Neal says he is considering an offer to play in the 2008
Olympics but San Antonio's Tim Duncan and Minnesota's Kevin Garnett will
definitely not play for the United States in Beijing.
USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo made the rounds speaking
with National Basketball Association players last weekend as he seeks 20 men
willing to make three-year commitment to international play and goodwill moves.
"The perception of Americans around the world is not a good, positive
situation. You can argue why, but the fact is we're not held in very high
esteem," Colangelo said.
"This is an opportunity to make a contribution, change an attitude that
prevails about us and restructure the whole deal."
US newspaper reports showed the Phoenix Suns' chairman was rejected by Duncan
and met with mixed success at best as he tries to avoid a Chinese repeat of the
disappointing bronze-medal US showing from the Athens Olympics.
"Jerry Colangelo is a very respected man," O'Neal told the Miami Herald. "He
had a lot to say and I told him out of respect to him I would really consider
it. I'll contact him personally to let him know. I really thank him for him for
thinking of me."
"Shaq" has rejected offers to play on the past two US Olympic squads since
helping win 1996 gold. And O'Neal's wife Shaunie, expecting a child in May,
might not want her husband to commit his next three off-seasons to a US effort.
"That factors in a lot," O'Neal said. "I wouldn't mind being on that team,
but I think some of the younger guys should step up. I think it's their
responsibility to just step up."
O'Neal said that former Los Angeles Lakers team-mate Kobe Bryant confirming
he will play on the 2008 US squad will not be a factor in his choice. Bryant and
O'Neal feuded before the big man departed for Miami before last season.
Players must be ready for this year's World Championships at Japan, next
year's Olympic qualifying Tournament of the Americas and the Beijing Games plus
weeks of pre-Olympic preparations in 2008.
"That's a pretty drastic commitment," Garnett said. "I
think they're trying to create more of a conglomerate and have more of a team.
They're taking more of an aspect of trying to get more young guys. I think you
should mix some veteran guys in there."
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