University of North Carolina Athletics
Barnes Makes Olympic Team
June 27, 2016 | General
CHAPEL HILL – USA Basketball announced the 12-player 2016 United States Olympic team, including Golden State Warrior and former University of North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes.
Barnes just finished his fourth season in the NBA and with the Warriors. The Ames, Iowa, native has played in consecutive NBA Finals, winning a title with Golden State in 2015.
He played two seasons at Carolina (2010-12), leading UNC to a 61-14 record, ACC regular-season titles in both 2011 and 2012, back-to-back ACC Tournament championship game appearances and consecutive Elite 8 berths in the NCAA Tournament.
Barnes will be the 14th Tar Heel selected to play men's basketball in the Olympics and 13th to play for Team USA.
Larry Brown (1964), Charles Scott (1968), Bobby Jones (1972), Walter Davis (1976), Phil Ford (1976), Mitch Kupchak (1976), Tom LaGarde (1976), Al Wood (1980), Michael Jordan (1984, 1992), Sam Perkins (1984), J.R. Reid (1988) and Vince Carter (2000) previously were selected for Team USA (Wood did not play due to the boycott in 1980). Henrik Rodl played for Germany in 1992.
Four Tar Heel coaches have also represented USA Basketball in the Summer Games – Dean Smith (head coach in 1976), Bill Guthridge (assistant coach in 1976), Larry Brown (assistant coach in 2000, head coach in 2004) and Roy Williams (assistant coach in 2004).
Joining Barnes on the 2016 Olympic team are Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks/Syracuse); Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls/Marquette); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings/Kentucky); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors/USC); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder/Texas); Paul George (Indiana Pacers/Fresno State); Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors/Michigan State); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers/Duke); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers/Texas A&M); Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors/Villanova); and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors/Washington State).
The 2016 USA coaching staff is led by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski. Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams are the assistant coaches.
The USA National Team will train July 18-21 in Las Vegas, Nev.
The U.S. will play two exhibition games versus 2015 FIBA Asia zone champ China, the first in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. Eastern on July 24 and the second at 10 p.m. Eastern on July 26 in Oakland. Continuing its exhibition tour in Chicago, the USA will play on July 29 at 9 p.m. Eastern versus 2015 FIBA Americas gold medalist Venezuela and will conclude the USA Basketball Showcase facing 2015 FIBA Africa zone champion Nigeria on Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern in Houston.
The U.S. men have collected a medal in all 17 Olympics in which they have competed, including 14 gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals. The American men are 130-5 (.963) in Olympic action, and since NBA players began representing the United States in 1992, the USA is 45-3 in six Olympics, capturing five gold medals and one bronze medal.
