Team USA is already gearing up for the Rio Olympics 2016. Currently having its mini camp at Las Vegas this week, among the stars on the roster is Carmelo Anthony. After a whirlwind past season, does Melo have enough to make it to the final Team USA roster?
Anthony is among the 34 NBA stars joining the Team USA mini camp this week. While the eight-time All-Star maybe one of the most experienced in the team, having been in three Olympics and winning two Gold medals, some still question whether Melo still has what it takes to be a superstar.
However, according to USA CEO Jerry Colangelo, Anthony's game is a "perfect fit" for the Olympic team.
"He's been a terrific basketball contributor. I think his participation has helped in his career. Melo's game has been a perfect fit for international play because of his versatility," Colangelo told The New York Post.
The past two seasons haven't been easy for former Syracuse standout, failing to make the Playoffs. And last season, they suffered one of the biggest letdowns, ending the season with the second worst record in the league (17-65). He also suffered an injury on February, ruling him out for the rest of the 2014-15 season.
While Anthony is still restricted by his injury and hasn't been cleared for contact, Colangelo says it is up to the athlete if he wants to play during the camp.
"It's up to him. We don't expect him to practice. If he wants to put his shoes on and shoot around, that's fine," the exec told The Post.
Colangelo also added that the mini camp is not the main deciding factor.
"People already trying to select the 12 for next summer, that's pretty presumptuous. We have a whole year of NBA basketball in front of us and a lot of things can happen - injuries, contracts, someone coming out of nowhere. They all have an impact."
In May, the Bleacher Report noted that Anthony may be ready for five-on-five games by start of August. That, however, has yet to be seen during the Team USA mini camp.