USA men’s basketball will start Olympics tuneup in Las Vegas

USA Basketball will begin its pre-Olympics exhibition tour against Argentina on July 22 in Las Vegas.

A site has not been announced, so the game might be at T-Mobile Arena. Previously, the United States has played at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The team trains at Mendenhall Center, and the game against Argentina will mark the end of that week-long camp. From here, the U.S. plays China in Los Angeles on July 24 and in Oakland, California, on July 26, Venezuela in Chicago on July 29 and Nigeria in Houston on Aug. 1.

Then the U.S. will compete in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio from Aug. 6-21. The U.S. has won gold five the past six Olympics, including the past two.

“With only a short period of training available, our training and exhibition games are critical in helping us prepare for the challenges we will face in Rio in defending our gold medal,” Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman and national team managing director, said in a statement. “We’re excited to give USA Basketball fans nationwide the opportunity to see their USA National Team in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Chicago and Houston.”

The finalists to make the team are LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Harrison Barnes, Bradley Beal, Jimmy Butler, Mike Conley, DeMarcus Cousins, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, DeMar DeRozan, Andre Drummond, Kevin Durant, Kenneth Faried, Rudy Gay, Paul George, Draymond Green, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Gordon Hayward, Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, DeAndre Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Kevin Love, Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, John Wall and Russell Westbrook.

“Building our team chemistry quickly is vital, and the 2016 USA Basketball Showcase will offer our players and coaches the opportunity to become familiar with each other, to develop chemistry and to gain critical international experience against a variety of differing styles,” USA and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement. “We’ll face some excellent and experienced international teams, which will be important in our preparations. 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.”

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow on Twitter: @markanderson65