James Harden and Anthony Davis are the only holdovers from the 2012 Olympics team that will play for the United States in the World Cup.

“Right now, I think I would look to Harden as that leader,” USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said as his team continues to prepare for the tournament in which the winner earns an automatic berth in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. “Harden is kind of a natural leader and he seems to be willing to accept that role. And you can just kind of feel it and sense. He’s the one.”

Harden's career trajectory changed dramatically after he was traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets.

“It’s so many things these last couple of years that’s been thrown at me, from me being traded, to people talking, just everything,” Harden said. “I try to focus on myself and how can I be a better basketball player. It’s still basketball at the end of the day. I try to do it to the best of my ability and continue to work hard.”

Harden declared himself the best player in the world recently.

“I think everybody feels that way. Every NBA player. Even growing up, growing up youngins have dreams that they want to be the best basketball players in the world,” Harden said. “As a basketball player, or any athlete, you got to have confidence, you’ve got to have confidence the whole time. You just go out there and do your job and have confidence that your abilities are good enough. Whatever is thrown at me, I just try to take it for what it is and just have fun.”

Kyrie Irving will start at point guard when Team USA players Slovenia in its final tuneup before the FIFA World Cup.

Mike Krzyzewski is considering using Irving and Derrick Rose as alternating starters at point guard.

"We'll see as thing goes on," Krzyzewski said after Monday's two-hour practice. "We might alternate 'em. Both of them are going to play significant minutes."

Krzyzewski could also use Irving and Rose on the floor together.

Kyrie Irving will start at point guard for Team USA in the final exhibition game against Slovenia on Tuesday night.

Mike Krzyzewski revealed that alternating Irivng and Derrick Rose at starting point guard is one option under consideration throughout the World Cup, which starts on Saturday.

"We'll see as thing goes on," Krzyzewski said after Monday's two-hour practice. "We might alternate 'em. Both of them are going to play significant minutes."

Rose and Irving could also play minutes together, as Rose continues to acclimate himself to full-speed basketball.

"I asked him today, and he said, 'I feel great,'" Krzyzewski said of Rose. "He did everything. He's full go. I think there's a part of him that's like: 'Quit asking me how I feel. I'm good.' So I'm not going to ask him anymore."

The USA Basketball National Team announced the 12 players who will represent the United States at the 2014 FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Basketball World Cup that is being held Aug. 30-Sept. 14 in Spain.

Named as members of the official 2014 USA Basketball World Cup Team were: DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); Rudy Gay (Sacramento Kings); James Harden (Houston Rockets); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); Mason Plumlee (Brooklyn Nets); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors).

Damian Lillard, Chandler Parsons, Kyle Korver and Gordon Hayward were left off the World Cup roster.

"Since taking over the USA Basketball Men's National Team program in 2005, this was without doubt the most difficult selection process we've gone through," Jerry Colangelo said in a statement. "I can't stress enough the outstanding effort and commitment that has been given by each finalist. I also want to make it clear that this is not just about talent -- each player is incredibly talented and each player offered us unique skills. In the end it was about assembling the best team, selecting guys who we felt would be able to best play the kind of style we envision this team playing."

"The first thing is we are very pleased with the overall effort of every player who was a part of the process," said Mike Krzyzewski, USA head coach and Duke University's Naismith Hall of Fame mentor. "To select twelve was difficult, because our pool is so good. As we go forward, we not only go forward as twelve, we go forward as a pool for USA Basketball. As a staff we want to thank the players who are not going forward.

"I'm excited about the 12 players selected and feel we have excellent versatility and the makings of a really good defensive team."

Derrick Rose has been sidelined from Team USA with ‘‘general body fatigue’’ since a victory over Brazil at the United Center on Saturday night.

Rose, who has had season-ending surgeries on both knees since the 2012 NBA playoffs, sat out both practices in New York but participated in the shootaround Wednesday morning and, according to one source, ‘‘moved very well.’’

According to a Chicago Bulls' source, Rose has been having ‘‘some aches in both knees, as well as his body, over the last 72 hours, but nothing unexpected or even out of the ordinary.’’ 

USA Basketball could finalize their World Cup roster as soon as Thursday.

Jerry Colangelo told ESPN.com that one scenario under consideration by USA Basketball officials is reducing the current 16-man roster to 12 or 13 players after Wednesday night's exhibition game against the Dominican Republic at Madison Square Garden.

"We've said we wanted to wait through the end of the week in New York before we made cutbacks," Colangelo said Monday, "but that could still change."

USAB must submit its official 12-man roster for the World Cup on Aug. 29 -- one day before the tournament starts.

Team USA has as many as 10 players still battling for the final six roster spots.

DeMarcus Cousins, Mason Plumlee and Andre Drummond are competing for only one guaranteed spot as backup center, though it's possible two of them could be on the plane to Spain.

Damian Lillard and DeMar DeRozan are also at risk of being cut.

Colangelo and Krzyzewski have consistently referred to the "core players" of the squad as Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose, James Harden, Kenneth Faried, Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving.

Derrick Rose had seven points, four rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes during USA's 95-78 win over Brazil in an exhibition game at the United Center.

Rose was introduced last and receive a warm welcome from the crowd.

"That was huge. I was surprised I didn't get nervous out there," Rose said.

"All summer long I think he's gotten more comfortable," said Chicago Bulls head coach and U.S. assistant Tom Thibodeau. "He went through the comeback last year and learned a lot from it. I love the way he's playing. He's finding the rhythm of the game and he's playing to his strengths."

Nemanja Nedovic did not suffer a fractured foot and he hopes to play for Serbia in the World Cup of Basketball.

The Golden State Warriors received his medical examinations and must give him clearance to participate.

Nedovic was a rookie during the 13-14 season.

Rudy Gay has been added by USA Basketball to replace Kevin Durant.

Gay will compete for one of the final 12 roster spots that goes to Spain for the World Cup.

Jerry Colangelo said that Kevin Durant didn't seem himself last week during USA Basketball's training camp in Las Vegas.

Durant announced his decision to withdraw from the team on Thursday, citing mental and physical fatigue. 

"Kevin [Durant] wasn’t quite Kevin last week," Colangelo said. "There was a lot of stuff, speculation. I don’t know what it was. A lot of things with him. So when I got the call, I want to say it wasn’t a total surprise about him not feeling capable of going forward physically and mentally.

“He needed to get away. You got to deal with it. That’s all. It is what it is.”