by Jordan Garretson, April 23, 2012
As the 2011-2012 season comes to a close for the New Jersey Nets this week, many players will be planning their offseason.
But for Deron Williams, the basketball doesn't stop this summer.
D-Will is a finalist for the 2012 USA Basketball Men's National Team that will compete this summer at the London Olympic Games. He will join 19 other players in Las Vegas this July for camp, where the roster will be trimmed to 12.
Deron will be looking to spearhead another United States gold-medal effort, similar to the one he helped the squad capture back in 2008. To make sure he's back to 100 percent and full prepared for the Games, he will make use of the Nets' practice facility in East Rutherford until he heads to Las Vegas.
"It's definitely convenience," Deron said. "My kids are still in school until the end of June, so I'm going to be around here until I leave for the Olympics."
Defending his Olympic gold is important to Deron, so he isn't willing to risk anything with the balky calf that has forced him to miss the last three games and may keep him out of the season's final two.
"We're just taking it day to day," Deron told The Record on Saturday. "I just want to make sure it's OK, and no reason to come back and do something stupid with three games left."
No. 8 suffered the injury during the NBA's All-Star Game back in February and missed just one game in March due to it. But he aggravated it in the team's April 14 loss to Boston. Ever since, he's craved to get back on the floor with his teammates.
"It's definitely difficult," he said. "I'd like to be out on the floor. But it's not really worth the risk."
