BASKETBALL It's official: James will play in Olympics

He will be the youngest U.S. male basketball player in the Olympics since '68.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Add Olympian to LeBron James' list of accolades.
The NBA Rookie of the Year officially accepted an invitation Friday from USA Basketball to play for the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team this summer in Athens, Greece.
James, 19, is the first Cleveland Cavaliers player named to a U.S. Olympic team. He also is the first NBA rookie and youngest player to join the national team since professional players started competing at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992.
James said he was honored.
"It's a dream come true for me to represent my country," he said.
Invited
Earlier this week, The Associated Press reported that James was invited to play for the U.S. team along with Phoenix Suns teammates Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, and Stephon Marbury of the New York Knicks. USA Basketball made it official Friday.
When the Athens Games open Aug. 13, James will be 19 years, seven months and 13 days old. That would make him the youngest U.S. male basketball player in the Olympics since Spencer Haywood in 1968, when Haywood was 19 years, five months and 26 days old.
The Cavaliers said they viewed James' selection as a sign of respect for his abilities on the court.
"We are thrilled for LeBron," said Cavaliers coach Paul Silas. "It's a tremendous honor for him, and a great opportunity to represent our country and the Cavaliers.
"LeBron has an uncanny ability to learn very quickly," Silas said. "I think this will be an invaluable experience, not only because of the competition, but because every day in practice he will be around many of the game's best players."
Looking forward
James said he looked forward to playing with his peers and working with Olympic team coach Larry Brown, who has a connection to James' hometown of Akron. Brown played two seasons with the Akron Wingfoots of the National Alliance of Basketball Leagues.
Before professional athletes were allowed on the U.S. Olympic basketball team, seven former Cavaliers were Olympians as college players: Jim Brewer, Phil Hubbard, Kenny Carr, Darnell Valentine, Dan Majerle, J.R. Reid and Bimbo Coles.
James, the No. 1 overall draft pick last year, averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 79 games, becoming just the third rookie in NBA history to average at least 20-5-5.
Training camp for the national team begins July 26 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. The team will play a six-game pre-tournament schedule during stops in Europe before the Olympic tournament, which runs through Aug. 28.