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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz and Mike Bibby of the Sacramento Kings were added Monday to the national team that will compete in the Olympic qualifying tournament in August.
Malone and Bibby are the fifth and sixth members of the team, which will be coached by Larry Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers. They join Ray Allen of Seattle, Tim Duncan of San Antonio, Jason Kidd of New Jersey and Tracy McGrady of Orlando.
The 39-year-old Malone played on gold-medal winning Olympic teams in 1992 and 1996. The 6-foot-9 forward, second on the NBA career scoring list, was chosen as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.
"He stands for everything that's important about our sport," Brown said. "He's been a star for a long time and a great example for young players."
Bibby led Arizona to the NCAA championship in 1997. The 24-year-old guard is completing his fifth NBA season and starred for the Kings during last season's playoffs.
"He's a young, up-and-coming star," Brown said. "He's very team conscious and should fit in extremely well."
USA Basketball will select the rest of the 12-man team this spring, adding two or three more NBA players and three or four role players from other pro leagues or college.
The qualifying tournament involves 10 teams from North, South and Central America and is set for Aug. 20-31 at San Juan, Puerto Rico.
A team of NBA players finished in sixth place at last year's world championships in Indianapolis, forcing the United States to play in a qualifying tournament.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
