Deron Williams named to initial Team USA roster

Beijing Olympics Basketball Men
Williams (left) with USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and current coach Jason Kidd in 2008. (AP)
Beijing Olympics Basketball Men
Williams (left) with USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and current coach Jason Kidd in 2008. (AP)

Deron Williams has been named to the initial National Team Roster for USA Basketball, the Brooklyn Nets announced today.

Williams joins 27 other players: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland), Carmelo Anthony (New York), Bradley Beal (Washington), Tyson Chandler (New York), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Stephen Curry (Golden State), Anthony Davis (New Orleans), Andre Drummond (Detroit), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City), Kenneth Faried (Denver), Paul George (Indiana), Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers), James Harden (Houston), Gordon Hayward (Utah), Dwight Howard (Houston), Andre Iguodala (Golden State), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), LeBron James (Miami), Kyle Korver (Atlanta), David Lee (Golden State), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), Damian Lillard (Portland), Kevin Love (Minnesota), Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers), Derrick Rose (Chicago), Klay Thompson (Golden State), and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City).

“I am very excited to be selected to the USA Basketball National Team,” Williams said in a prepared statement. “There is no greater honor than to represent your country and I am looking forward to the next three years as we prepare for the upcoming World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.”

Williams is a two-time Olympian and two-time gold-medalist, with a 16-0 record in Olympic competition in 2008 and 2012.