Aug. 06--Tom Thibodeau will coach Jimmy Butler again.
USA Basketball released its list of 34 players confirmed to attend next week's minicamp in Las Vegas and, as previously reported, Butler has been added to the mix.
Thibodeau, the former Bulls' coach, serves as assistant to USA Basketball men's national team head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Derrick Rose is not on the list, following his non-committal stance about participation this summer that began directly after he participated on the USA Basketball team that won gold at last September's World Cup in Spain.
Previously, Rose had expressed desire to participate in an Olympics. He has won two gold medals at the World Cup, also winning in 2010 in Turkey when the tournament was called the World Championships.
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo has said publicly that participation in next week's minicamp is mandatory to make the 2016 Olympic team that will compete in Rio de Janerio. The point guard field is crowded with Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, John Wall, Kyrie irving, Mike Conley and Michael-Carter Williams on the list of attendees next week.
LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin are some of the other high-profile names confirmed to attend next week. The minicamp will consist of two practices and an exhibition game on the third day.
"With this being a summer where we do not have an official competition that we need to prepare for, this year's minicamp is an opportunity to continue and expand the brotherhood and camaraderie that has been built," Colangelo said in a statement. "It will be a celebration of all that we've accomplished with USA Basketball since the National Team program was formed in 2006 while also looking ahead to 2016. The minicamp is going to be low key with light workouts, no contact, and the USA Basketball Showcase on Aug. 13 will be a fun all-star type game.
"We recognize and understand that some of our players' availability to participate is still up in the air. Some players are coming off of injuries and are not yet ready to actively participate, or they are getting ready for their NBA seasons. So, it's a good thing that we don't have a competition to get ready for this summer.
"We're also excited about the eight players who have been added to the National Team roster. Seven of the players have been involved in past national team training camps or have participated in past camps as a member of our select teams. All of them enjoyed outstanding NBA seasons in 2014-15 and have been on our radar for a while."
Butler, coming off his breakout season in which he earned his first All-Star appearance and got named the NBA's Most Improved Player, is a first-time attendee.
