Malone, Bibby added to Olympic team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz and Mike Bibby of the Sacramento Kings were added Monday to the national team that will compete in the Olympic qualifying tournament in August.

Malone and Bibby are the fifth and sixth members of the team, which will be coached by Larry Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers. They join Ray Allen of Seattle, Tim Duncan of San Antonio, Jason Kidd of New Jersey and Tracy McGrady of Orlando.

Malone played on gold-medal winning Olympic teams in 1992 and 1996 and was chosen as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. Bibby led Arizona to the NCAA championship in 1997.

USA Basketball will select the rest of the 12-man team this spring, adding two or three more NBA players and three or four role players from other pro leagues or college.

The qualifying tournament involves 10 teams from North, South and Central America and is set for Aug. 20-31 at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

A team of NBA players finished in sixth place at last year's world championships in Indianapolis, forcing the United States to play in a qualifying tournament.

 

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