Durant, Westbrook, Griffin Named Finalists For 2012 Olympics

Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook along with Oklahoma native Blake Griffin, have all been named finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic basketball team.

Chairman Jerry Colangelo announced the list of 20 finalists Monday saying the official 12-man team roster will be announced later this year.

"This will be the most talented of the teams that I've had the opportunity to coach," said head Olympics coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Durant was named World Championship MVP on the 2010 USA World Championship squad that went 9-0 and captured gold in Istanbul, Turkey. His involvement in USA basketball began in 2006 when he was named a member of the U.S. team at the Nike Hoop Summit. Since that time, he competed in the 2007 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge as well as participated in the National Team training camps.

So far this season Durant averages 25.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field for the Thunder.

Westbrook, most recently was a member of the 2010 USA World Championship squad that won gold in Istanbul. He also participated in the 2009 USA Men's National team mini-camp after being named to the USA Basketball Select team in 2008. Westbrook is averaging 18.9 points and 5.5 assists on the year so far for OKC.

Griffin had not been on the list of possible participants until earlier this month. Griffin is averaging 23.1 points and 11.1 assists per game for the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 2012 Summer games will be held in London, England from July 27-August 12 with twelve teams competing in the 2012 Olympic men's basketball competition.

Other finalists include: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers); Chris Bosh (Miami Heat); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); and Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets).