Team DNA: Coach K talks about the importance of having a team that works together, plays together, and has the same unstoppable passion for the game.

There is no question that we’ve assembled a deep, talented team. Physically, they are imposing and each of them has made a name for themselves as stars in the NBA. More importantly, we believe that this is a unit that can compete in the international game. That is one thing that we have focused on, ensuring that we have a team that can play the world’s game, which is very different than the NBA and college games that we are all accustomed to.

Being an assistant coach on the 1992 Dream Team was an incredible experience. Just to be associated with that team is something that I will never forget. I think it’s important to remember, though, that we are not trying to recreate the Dream Team. Chasing the past would be fruitless. We needed to assemble the team that will work at this particular time and meet this particular challenge. In the 16 years since Barcelona, the challenge has changed. International players are better, but more importantly, international teams are better. The gap is rapidly closing between our talent and their teams. Talent will always be important. You can’t win without it. But we have put together a team that is committed to learning and playing the world’s game.

So, our team has a terrific genetic make-up – a combination of talent, commitment, and a willingness to give of themselves to be a part of something bigger. But equally as important to this team DNA is the way in which you nurture it.

This past weekend was the first time we met together as the 2008 Olympic team. It was a whirlwind weekend that took us from Las Vegas to New York City, with numerous events and interviews.

But more than logistics, this past weekend was about forming a collective mind and spirit. You tell them things, and they hear it. You show them things, and they see it. But when they internalize those things that they see and hear, that’s when they feel it. Things like the opening of the Nike USA Basketball exhibit in Harlem late Sunday night remind us that we do not exist in isolation. We are a part of the rich history of USA Basketball. We are representing much more than ourselves, we represent a proud country that loves the game. The events of this past weekend made it possible for our guys to feel and to understand the magnitude of our undertaking. When you have great DNA, nurtured with feeling, you have a chance to accomplish something special.

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