<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">UConn center Emeka Okafor will be invited to fill the final roster spot on this summer's US Olympic basketball team, league sources tell ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Okafor is expected to formally accept the invitation shortly, which would complete USA Basketball's season-long odyssey to finalize a 12-man contingent for Athens after numerous pullouts and rebuffed invitations. USAB's selection committee opted to fill its final roster spot with a power player instead of a perimeter specialist such as Milwaukee's Michael Redd. Team USA coach Larry Brown had recently pushed for the inclusion of a top shooter like Redd or Rip Hamilton, but Hamilton and Detroit Pistons teammate Ben Wallace declined invitations. It was believed that Redd was next in line, but the selection committee reversed its position on Denver rookie Carmelo Anthony and invited Anthony to join the squad Tuesday. As ESPN.com reported Tuesday night, Anthony, who had criticized the selection process earlier this month, eagerly accepted.</div> <div align="center">Source</div>
awesome, i cant wait to see team usa this year. i still wish that sum of our great players wernt backing out
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shaq Diesel:</div><div class="quote_post">awesome, i cant wait to see team usa this year. i still wish that sum of our great players wernt backing out</div> I'm also for this idea, you seem to be lacking power, size, strength and presence which of course is always found in the best or better C's and PF's which apprarently Okafor is. He'll help out a lot if you ask me, it'll be good experience for him to keep his strength and skills up. However the person I'm gonna keep my eye on is Dwyane Wade.
aint that a bit stupid! he hasn't played any yet, so why not take a guy that's experienced? but anyways it will be funny.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BronxTeeRex:</div><div class="quote_post">aint that a bit stupid! he hasn't played any yet, so why not take a guy that's experienced? but anyways it will be funny.</div> I agree, This kid hasn't even played a single game in the NBA and there are people who want to play and have been playing in the NBA for a long time and would love the chance to play in the Olympics for the USA. I don't agree with this one bit. :thumbsdow
I will love seeing Emeka on the US olympic team, but I don't see him getting much playing time so I don't see what's the big fuss about him playing. My only worry is that he will play and get owned by europeans, or he will hurt his back again. That would hurt his reputation and lessen his impact on the Bobcats roster in our first year respectively. Good Luck Mr. Okafor! :thumbsup:
The Bobcats do not seem to be thrilled with Okafor's decision to accept a roster spot on the Olympic team. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We are somewhat concerned because all that basketball causes a lot of wear and tear and prevents you from being fresh at the start of the season, " Charlotte coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff said. "We have many concerns that we want to address."</div> Okafor Accepts Oly Spot, Bobcats not Thrilled Didn't Collison get hurt last year playing for the Olympic team? I'm not sure about that, so don't ridicule me if I'm wrong. Anyway, it doesn't matter to me whether Okafor joins the team or not. I'd like to see Okafor playing before the season starts. I think it's good for him as he'll be more polished by the time the season starts rather than waiting all summer. Besides, there will be others at his position. He won't get the most minutes. I can see how his back might be a concern, though. But that's a risk teams had to take by taking Okafor.
There are some postives and negatives about Emeka playing in the olympics. Positive - He will get great experience and he will get the feel for how the NBA works and I am shure some vet player will help him out on what to do and what is different from the NBA to NCAA basketball. Negative - Like everyone knows he could hurt his back and he could not be as fresh as the Bobcats need him, If Emeka gets hurt and he can't play some games the Bobcats will be in trouble beacuse the Bobcats need all the help they can get from there Rookies. This could be a great choice or a really bad choice, it will just have to play out.
I agree with online there are positives as well as negatives, theres a risk in everything even going to the bathroom how do you know you wont drown while taking a bubble bath??? I think Okafor should go because if he learns anything at all from the Olympics it is gauranteed to make him better in the NBA.
