The director of the U.S. national team, Jerry Colangelo, announced late last month the training camp roster for Team USA. The list included twenty-two NBA players including seven of the league?s top eight scorers and two of the league?s top three rebounders.

While the team included several all-stars ? Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Gilbert Arenas, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Chauncey Billups and Paul Pierce. The roster will also be comprised of role players such as Brad Miller, Bruce Bowen, and Shane Battier. Team USA will also showcase some of the league?s most promising young talent in Chris Paul, Josh Howard, and Dwight Howard.

Several notable names including Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O?Neal, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, and Tracy McGrady declined to participate.

There was one prominent player who was left off of the Team USA roster, Allen Iverson. A member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team, Iverson had expressed strong interest in playing again for USA Basketball in the next Olympic Games.

While I agree that Iverson is among the NBA?s top talents, and could finish his career among the greatest players in the history of the game, leaving him off the roster is Colangelo and Co.?s way of showing that the U.S. national team is more than just an all-star team. After the 2004 Olympic catastrophe, USA Basketball needed to strongly reconsider where their future was headed.

These selections are a step in the right direction.

For the most part, these players have all been model citizens and have shown a great deal of maturity on the court. Only Bryant doesn?t fit that description, and everyone knows what went on a few summers ago that changed many people?s perception of Kobe. I wouldn?t be surprised if the committee decided they were either going to select Bryant or Iverson.

While a team full of egos worked for Dream Team I and II, USA Basketball needed a pretty severe shake-up. A roster that includes team players like Battier, Billups, Bowen, Miller, and Luke Ridnour is a step towards a more cohesive international force.

International basketball is all about team work, and selfless attitudes. The coaching staff, headed by Duke?s Mike Krzyzewski, includes Suns head coach Mike D?Antoni, the Trail Blazers? Nate McMillan, and Syracuse?s Jim Boeheim. All of whom have successfully installed a ?team-first? attitude in their current or past coaching stops.

Regardless of what happens before the 2006 World Championship begins in Japan, this August the U.S. team will be prepared for some stiff competition.

Despite USA Basketball?s fall from the top, the fact is that we still have the best players in the world. Whether a more balanced roster and cohesive attitude will result in a return to Olympic and world dominance remains to be seen.

Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com