LOS ANGELES: The United States men's basketball team will play a series of five friendly internationals before heading to Rio de Janeiro to defend their Olympic title, USA Basketball announced on Monday.
A statement said the 12-man squad for the games -- due to be revealed in late June -- and coach Mike Krzyzewski would hold a training camp in Las Vegas in mid-July before facing 2004 Olympic champions Argentina on July 22 in an exhibition match.
The team would then face Asian giants China in back-to-back games at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 24 and the Oracle Arena in Oakland on July 26.
The team would then take on Venezuela on July 29 at the United Center in Chicago before facing African champions Nigeria at Houston's Toyota Center on August 1.
"Building our team chemistry quickly is vital and the 2016 USA Basketball Showcase will offer our players and coaches the opportunity to become familiar with each other, to develop chemistry and to gain critical international experience against a variety of differing styles," Krzyzewski said.
The Olympic basketball competition in Rio runs from August 6 to 21 with 12 teams in the men's field.
The United States will start as heavy favorites as they aim to secure a hat-trick of gold medals after wins in Beijing in 2008 and London four years ago.
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