Don’t expect Lin to play for US at London Olympics – reports

NEW YORK – USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo says New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin is not in US plans for the London Olympics but could be invited to train with the team, reports said.

Colangelo told the New York Times and Time magazine that Lin is unlikely to be placed on the US Olympic squad despite his breakout performance over the past three weeks.

But an ESPN Twitter posting said Colangelo says Lin might be invited to train with the US Olympians during preparations for the Americans to defend their gold medal at the London Olympics in July and August.

" The players who already have time invested in the system have equity built up," Colangelo told the Times.

Lin, a 23-year-old US point guard whose parents are from Taiwan, would have trouble cracking the Olympic lineup ahead of reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose of Chicago, Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, New Jersey's Deron Williams and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers.

That does not even include Chauncey Billups, who was removed from a list of 20 finalists due to an injury. USA Basketball decided not to name a replacement given the depth already in place at the point guard position.

"It's hard to go from A to Z in one quick swoop and maintain the credibility of what you've put in place in the way of infrastructure," Colangelo told Time.