Westbrook, Paul part of Team USA 2018-2020 pool, Olympic Melo no more

Carmelo Anthony, the most decorated Team USA participant in history did not make the 35 man invitation list for programs running 2018-2020.

The dopplegangers of Carmelo Anthony are many. Melo of course is the most common nickname, but there are a myriad of adjectives used in conjunction to isolate a specific time frame or area of his life.

Hoodie Melo became a hot property this past summer as Anthony worked out. Anthony was dubbed Grandpa Melo during one Team USA stint. And the latter was isolated by the popular Olympic Melo. This iteration of Melo was also often tied to the best version of Anthony because of how it epitomized the overall team game Anthony brought to the hardwood.

Yet, as Team USA announced the pool of 35 men invited to participate in the pool of talent who’ll comprise the team in 2018 through 2020 Anthony’s name was conspicuously absent.

In fairness Anthony did state after winning gold at the Rio Olympics this (his fourth) would be his last tour of duty.

Still, it does seem it would be a logical invite if only as a mentor to help the first time invitees through the process.

Most decorated Men’s Basketball Olympian in history:

No other Team USA athlete has as much hardware as Melo. To wit, his awards cabinet has not one but three Olympic gold medals as well as a bronze medal.

The collection began with the team’s bronze performance in Athens 2004 The trilogy of gold came courtesy of tours in Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Anthony set a record becoming the first four time medalist. He holds numerous individual records such as being Team USA all-time leading scorer.

Russell Westbrook and Paul George did make the 35 man pool. Westbrook took the last round off to focus on OKC and his contract while George was a member of the gold medal squad in Rio.

The 35 member pool:

Those who made the cut are:

Point Guards:

• Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors
• Russell Westbrook – OKC Thunder
• Chris Paul – Houston Rockets
• Kyle Lowry – Toronto Raptors
• John Wall – Washington Wizards
• Kyrie Irving – Boston Celtics
• Mike Conley – Memphis Grizzlies
• Damian Lillard – Portland Trail Blazers
• Kemba Walker –  Charlotte Hornets
• Isaiah Thomas  – Los Angeles Lakers

Shooting Guards:

• James Harden – Houston Rockets
• Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors
• DeMar DeRozan – Toronto Raptors
• Jimmy Butler (G/F) – Minnesota Timberwolves
• Bradley Beal – Washington Wizards
• Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns
• Eric Gordon – Houston Rockets
• CJ McCollum – Portland Trail Blazers
• Victor Oladipo – Indiana Pacers
• Khris Middleton – Milwaukee Bucks

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Small Forwards:

• Kevin Durant – Golden State Warriors
• Kawhi Leonard – San Antonio Spurs
• Paul George (G/F) – OKC Thunder
• LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
• Harrison Barnes – Dallas Mavericks (SF/PF)
• Gordon Hayward (G/F) –  Boston Celtics
• Tobias Harris –  Los Angeles Clippers

Power Forwards:

• DeMarcus Cousins (PF/C) – New Orleans Pelicans
• Anthony Davis (PF/C) – New Orleans Pelicans
• Kevin Love – Cleveland Cavaliers
• Draymond Green – Golden State Warriors
• Blake Griffin – Detroit Pistons

Centers

• DeAndre Jordan – LA Clippers
• Myles Turner – Indiana Pacers
• Andre Drummond – Detroit Pistons

The pool will be utilized to create the team who’ll compete in World Championships and gear up for the 2020 Olympics.