USA - Thompson knocking on national team door

OAKLAND (NBA/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Selecting a roster for the USA is not an easy task. In fact, national team coach Mike Krzyzewski and USA Basketball Chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo have probably the most complicated job in basketball by having to choose from so many talented players.

Since taking control of the USA national team programme in 2005, the success experienced by Coach K and Colangelo has been driven by the idea of building strong, balanced teams for every competition.

Over the years, as well as having NBA superstars such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, the USA's staff has also given the opportunity for some emerging talents to make the team.

Shooting guard Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors is one of the young guns knocking on the USA's door.

The 11th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Washington State University is having his best season to date, averaging 17.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Forming one of the most efficient shooting backcourts in the league with 2010 FIBA World Championship winner Stephen Curry, Thompson has already won a gold medal with his country by being part of the team that won the title at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship in New Zealand.

The talented shooter, who is among the 28 players selected to the 2014-2016 USA national team pool, would like to make the team for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

FIBA.com caught up with Thompson to talk about his season so far and the national team.

FIBA: Klay, how do you think the season has gone for you and the team so far? Do you feel this is the best you've played?
Thompson: This season has been going very well for me. I am being productive game after game and I feel at ease playing for the Golden State Warriors, which is the perfect team for me. I am happy to play alongside Stephen Curry, one of the best players in the league. I am playing my best basketball since I arrived in the NBA and I know that I can still improve in order to be one of the best shooting guards in the league.

FIBA: The team is currently sixth in the Western Conference. How do you feel heading into the final stretch?
Thompson: Our season has been going well so far and everybody is looking forward to starting the playoffs. We had some good winning streaks but I think we can play better. The roster is more solid than last year and we would like to do better than last year when we were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. We gained experience and we are going to be a tough opponent in the playoffs.

FIBA: You had your first national team basketball experience in 2009 when you helped the USA win the FIBA U19 World Championship in New Zealand. What do you remember from that?
Thompson: It was such a great experience as I had the opportunity to represent my country and play against some of the best young players in the world. It was a very interesting human experience and I learned a lot during our time in New Zealand. I had no difficulties adjusting to FIBA basketball and I did my best to help my teammates win the gold medal. This world title is one of the best moments of my career so far.

FIBA: After being invited to the national team mini-camp last summer, you were selected to the 2014-2016 USA Basketball 28-player pool this past January.
Thompson: I am so happy to be selected among such talented players. I had a great experience last summer by training with Coach K and his staff and I can't wait to work with them again. I am very excited because the list also includes my teammates Stephen Curry, David Lee and Andre Iguodala. It would be incredible to play with them this summer and help the USA win another world title.

FIBA: So being a part of the team headed to Spain 2014 ranks among your main goals for 2014?
Thompson: Yes, definitely. It is always an honour for me to represent my country and I would like to win titles with the national team. I am going to give my best to make the team and go to Spain this summer.

FIBA