This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Damian Lillard once was so discouraged about his prospects that he asked to not be considered for the U.S. Olympic basketball team in 2016. And now the former Weber State is almost a lock to make the final 12-player roster, which will be announced later this month.
Three things have happened since August 2014, when Lillard was cut from the USA Basketball entry in the FIBA World Cup: Lillard has kept improving in the NBA, he asked to be brought back into consideration for the Olympics and, most significantly, four point guards have withdrawn.
Chris Paul and John Wall removed themselves earlier this year, due to injury rehabilitation. Last week, Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook withdrew. That leaves only three point guards from the list of 31 finalists: Lillard, Kyrie Irving and Mike Conley.
Lillard was added to that list in February after talking with USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo. Coach Mike Krzyzewski agreed to have Lillard considered, although he seemed unlikely to make the team at the point. Recent developments have improved his chances dramatically, especially the exits of Curry and Westbrook.
In his fourth NBA season, Lillard averaged 25.1 points and 6.8 assists for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2015-16. He led the Blazers to a surprising No. 5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Portland defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in six games before losing to Golden State in five games.
Lillard participated in a USA Basketball training camp in Las Vegas in 2014 and appeared likely to make the team — and possibly even start at point guard in the World Cup in Spain. But he was cut after appearing in two exhibition games, and that's why he decided to stop pursuing an Olympic berth in 2016. He missed the 2015 camp that was described as a requirement for players to be considered for the Games in Rio de Janeiro.
In this summer's case, the team will be picked prior to a camp in mid-July. The Americans will stage a five-game exhibition tour, including a stop in Lillard's hometown of Oakland, Calif.
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