"Tell them we'll trade Athens for Sydney," says Aaron Goodwin, the agent for Sonics guard Gary Payton. Goodwin was joking, but it's obvious that the world championships don't carry anywhere near the prestige of the Olympics. Some players are reluctant to devote a healthy chunk of their off-season to a lesser event, especially those, like Lakers center (and rapper and actor) Shaquille O'Neal, who have other careers. "Shaq is honored to be chosen, and we'll be looking at his schedule for the summer of 1998 before we make a commitment," says his agent, Leonard Armato.

Payton and O'Neal, who won gold medals in Atlanta as members of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, were among the 10 players selected to the 1998 team by USA Basketball. The others are guards Terrell Brandon of Milwaukee and Allan Houston of New York; and forwards Vin Baker of Seattle, Kevin Garnett of Minnesota, Grant Hill of Detroit, Christian Laettner of Atlanta, Glen Rice of Charlotte and Chris Webber of Washington. Two additional players will be chosen early in 1998 to complete the roster.

Candidates for those final two slots include guards Jason Kidd of Phoenix, Anfernee Hardaway of Orlando and Damon Stoudamire of Toronto. Heat center Alonzo Mourning, if he is forgiven for his unsportsmanlike behavior at the 1994 world championships, will also receive consideration, especially since O'Neal is the only true center among the 10 current selections. But will any of them want to go?

"It's getting tougher to convince guys to play in international competition, because of everything that's involved with it," says Utah's Karl Malone, a member of the 1992 and 1996 Olympic teams. "It takes away from the time you have to rest up from last season. Plus there are all the security concerns we had in Atlanta. And then you have to beat everybody by enough to show you're dominating, but not enough to run up the score. I would never tell anybody not to play, but guys should know what they're getting into before they commit."

—Phil Taylor