May 23, 2001
LAS VEGAS - Former Runnin' Rebel Shawn Marion and current member of the NBA's Phoenix Suns has been named to basketball's Team USA for the 2001 Goodwill Games, Games officials have announced.
The 12-member team will consist of NBA players who were drafted in either 1999 or 2000, or who were 22 years old or younger at the time of the selection process. Player selections were made by the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee. The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Center in Queensland, Australia, will play host to Goodwill Games basketball competition from Sept. 3-9.
In addition to Marion, members of the 2001 USA Basketball Men's Goodwill Games Team are Shane Battier (this season's college Player of the Year/Duke '01), Baron Davis (Charlotte Hornets), Marc Jackson (2001 All-NBA Rookie First Team/Golden State Warriors), Rashard Lewis (Seattle SuperSonics), Mark Madsen (Los Angeles Lakers), Kenyon Martin (2001 All-NBA Rookie First Team/New Jersey Nets), Andre Miller (Cleveland Cavaliers), Mike Miller (2001 NBA Rookie of the Year/Orlando Magic), Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers), Wally Szczerbiak (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Jason Terry (Atlanta Hawks).
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders will serve as the head coach and he will be assisted by Orlando Magic head coach Glenn Rivers, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo and Dayton head coach Oliver Purnell.
Eight of the chosen players - Davis, Jackson, Marion, Martin, Andre Miller, Mike Miller, Szczerbiak and Terry - participated in the 2001 Schick Rookie Challenge that was held during the annual NBA All-Star Weekend. The team also includes four members of the 2000 NBA All-Rookie teams - Szczerbiak (first team), Andre Miller (first team), Marion (second team) and Terry (second team). Both Szczerbiak and Andre Miller were part of the 1998 Goodwill Games Team USA that defeated Team Australia for gold.
The eight-team Goodwill Games basketball field also includes Argentina, host-country Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.
Team USA is the defending Goodwill Games champion having won the gold in New York at the 1998 Games with a 93-85 overtime win vs. Australia. The USA men have medaled in all four Goodwill Games competitions and have compiled an overall win-loss record of 19-6 (.760). The USA captured gold in 1998 and 1986, silver in 1990 and bronze in 1994. All four of those USA Goodwill Games Teams were comprised of college players.
The Goodwill Games will be held Aug. 29-Sept. 9, 2001, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, will feature 14 sports: athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling (track), diving, figure skating, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, trampoline, triathlon, weightlifting and sure lifesaving.
