By The Associated Press
Tuesday November 29, 2005
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The mix of NBA and college coaches forms the staff of the first true U.S. national team, to compete in next year's world championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"This staff encompasses all the areas that need to be addressed,'' Krzyzewski said in a statement.
"We have NBA experience. We have international experience. We have backgrounds to teach different styles of basketball, including zone offense and defense.''
Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball managing director and chairman of the Phoenix Suns, made the announcement at a news conference.
He cited D'Antoni's international experience as a player and coach in Italy for 20 years, Boeheim's familiarity with the zone offenses and defenses common in the international game and McMillan's toughness as a defensive player and coach.
D'Antoni played at Marshall University in the early 1970s, and was an NBA All-Rookie second team selection in 1974 while with the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. He also played 13 seasons in Europe for Milan, where he became the club's all-time leading scorer.
He joins an experienced staff that will try to return USA Basketball to supremacy.
Colangelo is forming the first true U.S. national team to compete in both major international competitions. The coaches and players will not be paid and must make a three-year commitment.
A permanent training site will be selected soon, Colangelo said. The camp will be held next summer with some 20 players selected to compete for spots on the team that will compete in the world championships in Japan.
"The camp will begin approximately July 18 and we're not finished until Sept. 4,'' Colangelo said. "That's going to be a grind.''
The U.S. team will play exhibition games in China and South Korea before going to Japan, Colangelo said, and will practice at U.S. military bases in the Far East.
D'Antoni said the international game "probably is closer to the college game than the pro game. That's why I think Coach K will do such a great job.''
Boeheim is in his 30th season as Syracuse coach. His Orangemen won the 2003 national championship.
This is the eighth time Boeheim has served on a USA Basketball coaching staff.
"There is no greater honor a basketball coach can have than to coach for your country,'' Boeheim said in a statement released by USA Basketball.
"I believe the whole country will unite behind this effort to win back the gold medal.''
McMillan coached the Seattle SuperSonics for five seasons before moving to the Trail Blazers this fall. He led the Sonics to a surprising 52-30 record in 2004-05, sixth-best in the NBA. He played all 12 of NBA seasons with Seattle.
"I was pleasantly surprised when I was asked to be a member of the coaching staff'' of the U.S. team, McMillan said.
"I am so honored to have been asked. This is the greatest achievement of my basketball career.''
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