New Orleans Hornet point guard Chris Paul is an NBA star.
He and Deron Williams, his Utah Jazz counterpart and fellow first-round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, are part of a bright future for the NBA.
But the way both performed in the NBA this season means U.S. national team coach Mike Krzyzewski and national team honcho Jerry Colangelo have a tough decision to make now that they've said they'll pick a 12-man squad for the Beijing Olympics without a tryout.
Working in Paul's favor: Did you see how he ran past Jason Kidd (probable U.S. starter) in the NBA Playoffs?
Working in Williams' favor: Did you see how Paul (6-0, 175) wasn't fully able to handle the bumping, shoving allowed in the backcourt during the 2006 World Championships in Japan?
Williams (6-3, 210) was added to the national team roster because he can withstand more physical play.
Krzyzewski has said size will factor into the final choice, but not the only one.
And Krzyzewski could not stop raving about Paul's play in Japan in 2006.
Then again, if Detroit's Chauncey Billups can't suit up this summer for health reasons, it would clear a path for both.
