Denver Nuggets Kenneth Faried named finalist for 2016 USA Olympic team

Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried was one of 30 players selected that will vie for the 12 available roster spots on the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team participating in the 2016 Olympic Games this summer in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Faried joins a list of notable names in the player pool including Olympic veterans like: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. Kobe Bryant — who’s retiring at the end of this season — Derrick Rose, Damian Lillard and Mason Plumlee were not included in the initial 30.

After Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love all withdrew from the team and Paul George suffered a devastating broken leg prior to the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the Manimal burst onto the international scene. Alongside Anthony Davis, Faried helped spearhead an American frontcourt that dominated play throughout the tournament.

That tournament rejuvenated Faried’s profile among the rest of the league and propelled the Nuggets to sign him to a four-year, $50 million contract extension that kicked in this season.

Through 35 games this year Faried is averaging 12.2 points on 53.5 percent shooting, 8.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 26.5 minutes per game.

The entire list of 30 players (and their NBA teams):

LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs); Anthony (New York Knicks); Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors); Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards); Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls); Mike Conley(Memphis Grizzlies); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Curry (Golden State Warriors); Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Faried (Denver Nuggets); Rudy Gay (Sacramento Kings); George (Indiana Pacers); Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors); Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Houston Rockets); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz); Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets); Andre Iguodala (Golden State Warriors); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); James (Cleveland Cavaliers); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs); Love (Cleveland Cavaliers); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Klay Thompson(Golden State Warriors); John Wall (Washington Wizards); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).