Anthony, Lowry, DeRozan to play in Rio

One of the assistant coaches on Team USA will be Tom Thibodeau, Butler’s former coach with the Bulls and the current coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Carmelo Anthony has committed to pursuing his third gold medal for Team USA in the Rio Olympic Games this summer, league sources told The Vertical. It will be Butler’s first experience in global competition.

Paul George has accepted a spot on USA Basketball’s 2016 Rio Olympics team, as he hinted to the IndyStar earlier this month.

Butler averaged 20.9 points and 5.3 rebounds for Chicago this season while Lowry averaged 21.2 points and 6.4 assists for Toronto. He’s 31 and has already won two gold medals (in 2012 and 2008) and a bronze (2004) in three Olympics with Team USA, as well as a bronze in the 2006 FIBA World Championships.

A report Thursday morning said Portland guard Damian Lillard was also declining an invitation to rehab, creating an opening for Lowry.

Lowry’s decision to play for the US teams comes in after many notable players chose to pull out from the summer games.

“If he’s comfortable playing with U.S. basketball, then it’s an exciting time”, McMillan said. After being passed over for players such as Derrick Rose and Kyrie Irving, he publicly hinted that he felt he wasn’t given a fair chance to make the team.

Kawhi Leonard passed on the opportunity to play, with the San Antonio Spurs announcing his withdrawal in a news release.

“This was a very hard decision”.

Team USA will hold a training camp in late July and will play five exhibition games beginning on July 22.

Several big names have said they will not take part, amid fears of the Zika virus and crime, including NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry of Golden State and star guards Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City and James Harden of Houston.