In rebuilding USA Basketball, Jerry Colangelo's ability to get Nike on a three-year deal as a sponsor in 2005 allowed it to become a self-sufficient entity.

"The Nike relationship with the NBA had fallen apart," Colangelo said. "But I had a lot of relationships there myself. Phil Knight was a partner of mine in the baseball team in Arizona. I've known Phil Knight for so many years. Coach [George] Raveling [currently Nike's Director of International Basketball], dear friend of mind for many, many years. So the relationships were there. And it was a matter of re-establishing a relationship. But I wanted to make it clear to them, this wasn't an NBA deal. This was USA Basketball. This is our own entity and brand. And that kind of opened the door."

During the four years before the 2004 Olympics, USA Basketball had raised just $9 million and was reliant on the NBA backfilling the costs.

By 2008, USA Basketball had raised $33 million in a four-year period and raised another $35 million between 2008 and 2012.

24 Hour Fitness, American Express, Burger King, Cisco, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Gatorade, Jeep, Las Vegas Events, MetroPCS and Right Guard are all sponsors of USA Basketball along with Nike.

LeBron James will not participate in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain for Team USA and is doubtful for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

James won an Olympic Gold Medal in 2008 and again in 2012.

"LeBron is going to be three years older during the next Olympics. He will have two older boys. He has a lot to endure with his family," the source told Y! Sports. "He played in three Olympics. Everyone that knows LeBron knows it's always based on a decision at that moment. But if the moment was today, the answer would be no."

James will place a higher importance on offseason rest moving forward.

Kevin Durant and Kevin Love have committed to 2014, while Russell Westbrook and James Harden are expected to be play as well.

Jerry Colangelo has not asked James if he will play in 2016.

"I don't think he will ever too old," Colangelo said. "He can be 40 and still be able to play. Think of what he might be able to accomplish in terms of legacy with one more medal.

"We'll cross that bridge later."

Kevin Durant and Kevin Love have confirmed that they will play in next year's FIBA World Cup in Spain.

"I told Kevin (Durant) yesterday I was committed," Love said. "He committed last night to (Coach K) and the team, so it's just a cool thing."

Jerry Colangelo told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! that he hasn't asked LeBron James to play in the event and doesn't expect him to participate, but will ask for the Olympics in 2016.

Aaron Gordon leads Team USA with averages of 13.5 points and 6.8 rebounds through six games of the FIBA U19 World Championship.

Team USA coach Billy Donovan sees similarities between Gordon and Joakim Noah, who led Donovan’s Florida Gators to back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007.

"I don't mean to say he's the same kind of player, but in terms of coaching him, he reminds me in a lot of ways of Joakim Noah," Donovan said. "He's got that energy and that kind of passion."

Gordon averages 20.8 minutes per game, second most on Team USA.

"A lot of guys are really talented and athletic," Donovan said. "What makes him so different is his effort, his energy. … There are things he's got to get better on – he doesn't necessarily have this great scoring skill, in terms of a low-post game yet or he's not this great 3-point shooter.

"I think he's got such an incredible ceiling because the things I'm talking about, he can get better at those things. What you can't teach, and I think is so important, is an incredible motor. He really has an incredible motor."