Team USA Basketball’s final roster has been set for the London Olympics, 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 of Cousins.
Photo credit: Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE
