USA - Arenas unlikely to be invited to try out for Team USA

WASHINGTON (Olympics) - Gilbert Arenas is so good that he could start for a lot of international teams.

When it comes to Team USA, though, he'd be lucky just to make the squad.

The Washington Wizards' sharpshooter is unlikely to play for his country this summer at the Beijing Games.

USA national team managing director Jerry Colangelo told the Washington Post he would not be among the 18 players invited to the Las Vegas for a short training camp from June 27-30.

The 12-man Olympic squad will be taken from that group.

"He's not part of the mix," Colangelo said. "Not at this point, because of what transpired the first year and he was out the second year.

"He's on the roster, but as of right now, we don't see him as one of the 18."

The first year of USA Basketball under the leadership of Colangelo and national team coach Mike Krzyzewski saw Arenas in the squad that played right up to the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

Arenas was then, according to Team USA, left off because of a groin injury but the player himself indicated that had not been the case and that Krzyzewski had not given him a fair chance to make the team.

The United States lost their semi-final to Greece and had to settle for a bronze medal win over Argentina.

Last summer, Arenas was not a part of the title-winning USA team at the FIBA Americas Championship that qualified for Beijing.

Colangelo said to the Post that Arenas' comments were playing no part in the decision on whether or not to invite him to Las Vegas.

Arenas now claims there are "no hard feelings", but his latest remarks suggest otherwise.

"My whole thing from Day One, if they are going to give me a fair shot, then I would've loved to play," Arenas said.

"That's the part that disappointed me the most. I know it has nothing to do with my skill."

Did Arenas want to play this summer?

"It is my contract summer and it was a big debate in my mind, whether I was going to go for it and if they were going to give me a fair shot from what happened the last time," Arenas said.

"I just said, 'You know what, that's a dream that's just past.' I got my chance to play and I got in a couple of games with the USA jersey on, and I satisfied a hunger I had as a child."

Arenas says he will still be hoping Team USA brings home the gold medal.

FIBA