USA favored to bring back gold at FIBA World Championship

Sportsbook.com favors NBA all-star line-up despite recent international performances

London, UK (July 24, 2006) – With thoughts of USA’s stunning sixth place finish at the 2002 World Championships and disappointing bronze medal finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics still fresh in everyone’s minds, odds makers at Sportsbook.com, the largest online sportsbook and casino in the world, feel the Americans are ready for a resurgence. The USA heads to the World Basketball Championships in Japan as the 1-3 favorite.

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The USA is followed by reigning Olympic champion Argentina at 11-2. Also at 11-2 are European powerhouses Spain and Serbia and Montenegro, who won the 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championships as team Yugoslavia. With many teams now boasting several NBA all-stars, the competition is getting tougher and tougher. Argentina, gold medalist in Athens and runner-up in the 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championships recently placed no better than third in South America. Italy, the runner-up in Athens is just a 30-1 long shot this time around, but clearly has the pedigree to perform well.

Famed NCAA Duke Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski will lead a new crop of NBA all stars like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in an effort to bring respectability back to a team that was once considered unbeatable on the global stage.

“This is a complete departure from Larry Brown’s veteran team in 2004,” said Alex Czajkowski, Sportsbook.com. “The expectation is that Coach K will add new energy to the American squad – and with a roster like that he’s certainly got all the best young talent available to make it happen. Everybody bets and at sportsbook.com we’ll be ready when the basketball stage is set for the world.”

FIBA World Championship Odds, September 3, 2006

USA	1-3
Argentina	11-2
Spain	11-2
Serbia & Montenegro	11-2
Lithuania	7-1
Greece	10-1
France	14-1
Brazil	16-1
Field (others not listed)	20-1
Italy	30-1
Germany	30-1
Australia	80-1
Puerto Rico	80-1
Venezuela	100-1
New Zealand	150-1
Japan	150-1
China	250-1
Senegal	300-1

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