SAPPORO, Japan - Nearly 50 players from the National Basketball Association,
about one of every six participants, will take the court for their homelands
when the FIBA World Championships begin Saturday.
Nearly 50 players from
the National Basketball Association, about one of every six participants,
including China's Yao Ming seen here 18 August 2006, will take the court
for their homelands when the FIBA World Championships begin
Saturday.[AFP] |
China's Yao Ming, Argentina's Manu Ginobili, Germany's Dirk Nowitzki, Pau
Gasol of Spain, France's Boris Diaw and a 12-man US roster top global greats
vying for the crown, which also conveys a 2008 Beijing Olympics berth.
"We need to just be aggressive, play hard and you have to understand to some
of these players this is their NBA championship, this is their ultimate goal -
to win these games," US center Elton Brand said.
"This is as important as any game they have played, so we have to take it as
that also."
San Antonio Spurs star Ginobili, who missed the 2002 worlds with an injury,
is a prime example of the NBA's evolution from a nearly all-American league to
one with 40 percent talent from outside US borders.
"Many of us are playing with them (in the NBA) every single day so we're
getting closer," Ginobili said. "You're not going to see a US team, even though
they are very good, beating everyone by 30. That's part of the past."
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony will ignite a US lineup trying
to return the Americans to the top with speed, defence and teamwork after they
lost three times and were a disappointing third at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
"It's an honor to be part of this once again," said Anthony, a 2004 Olympian
like James. "It's like a fresh start, a second chance. You don't get too many
second chances in life and I want to take full advantage of this one."
US coach Mike Krzyzewski, a US college coaching legend at Duke University,
marvels at the difference between NBA talent and other competitors.
"In the NBA, they take basketball to a whole other level, and I don't think
people get that impression," Krzyzewski said. "They're just so talented that
they make some things look easy."
France and Slovenia will have a handful of NBA players each, although the
loss of Tony Parker to a broken right finger announced Friday will be a major
blow to French title hopes.
Argentina and Spain have four NBA players in their lineups and NBA players
such as Yao, Nowitzki, Gasol and Puerto Rico's Carlos Arroyo often spark top
efforts by teammates.
