US men’s basketball set for 5-game pre-Olympic schedule

The U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team will face Argentina and three other opponents during a five-game, five-city exhibition tour leading up to the Summer Games.

The Americans will play two games against China — their first opponent in Rio de Janeiro — before facing Venezuela and Nigeria.

USA Basketball announced the pre-Olympic plans Monday for the two-time defending gold medalists, who will face the champions from last summer’s Asian, American and African qualifying tournaments.

“We’ll face some excellent and experienced international teams, which will be important in our preparations,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement. “Playing five exhibition games in the United States in front of home crowds will be memorable for our players and fans alike, and we look forward to representing the United States in the best manner we can.”

The U.S. will hold training camp on the campus of UNLV from July 18-21 before hosting Argentina, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and No. 4 team in the world rankings, on July 22 at a Las Vegas site to be determined.

The Americans will then move to California for games against the Chinese on July 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and July 26 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, home of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

That will be followed by a game on July 29 at the United Center in Chicago against Venezuela, which qualified for the Olympics by winning last summer’s FIBA Americas championship, before the tour wraps up in Houston on Aug. 1 against African champion Nigeria.

Stephen Curry is once again expected to lead the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team. Photo by FIBA.com

The Americans crushed the Nigerians by 83 points four years ago in their biggest Olympic rout ever.

The U.S. will then travel to Rio for the Aug. 6-21 tournament. The Americans will also play Venezuela again there during group play.