The official announcement is not expected for another few weeks, but the Sixers' Andre Iguodala says he will be one of the 18 finalists for the U.S. Olympic team headed to London for the 2012 games.
The final roster will have 12 players and six alternates and must be finalized with the U.S. Olympic Committee by mid June.
Iguodala said he was contacted by USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo this week about being one of the 18 players in consideration for the Olympic team.
Iguodala led the Sixers with 14 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday night's 97-62 victory over the Toronto Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center, despite shooting just 3 for 12 from the floor. He is averaging 13.1 points per game this season, but primarily is known as the Sixers' top defensive stopper. He held down that role for the U.S. team that won the World Championships in Turkey during the summer of 2010.
He helps us win and thats the bottom line, Sixers coach Doug Collins said.
Iguodala's World Championships team went 9-0 led by tourney MVP Kevin Durant as well as reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose, Tyson Chandler, Russell Westbrook, Lamar Odom, Chauncey Billups, Danny Granger, Stephen Curry, Kevin Love, Rudy Gay and Eric Gordon.
Iguodala also played internationally for Team U.S.A. in 2002 in the Under-18 World Championships, taking home a bronze medal.
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E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com