LeBron James, who cemented his status as an NBA great in leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the championship this month, won’t play for the USA at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. USA Basketball named a 12-man squad for the Games on Monday that didn’t include James, confirming last week’s reports that he had withdrawn from consideration for the team. U.S. basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo (R) and the 12 players selected for the 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team pose during a news conference at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada in a July 7, 2012 file photo. USA Basketball chief Jerry Colangelo acknowledged that the wheels were in motion for a “sea change” to shift basketball’s showcase global event from the Olympic stage to a World Cup format patterned after the enormously popular world soccer tournament, but cautioned there were speed bumps ahead. Back row (L – R) Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin, [...]
