Paul, Boozer make Olympic team

The U.S. national team, which includes former Wake Forest star Chris Paul and former Duke big man Carlos Boozer, that will make a run for the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics will be young but experienced and will have to rely on its versatility during the Olympic tournament Aug. 8-24.

Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd represent the older NBA contingent. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade all played for the bronze-medal winning U.S. team in Athens in 2004.

Paul, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, Detroit Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince, Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams and Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh have all played for the U.S. senior men's national team either at the 2006 World Championships in 2006 or the 2007 FIBA Americas qualifying tournament.

The team's average age is 26.08 years. The 2004 Olympic team's average age was 23.60. Kidd, a gold medalist at the 2000 Sydney Games, is the oldest at 35.