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Posted: 11:30 AM- CHICAGO - Coach Mike Krzyzewski praised the Jazz's Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams at a meeting with reporters at the U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit on Tuesday, saying both men "are going to be in the mix" for spots on the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2008 Beijing Games in China this summer.
"We're talking about two guys we love," Krzyzewski said.
Krzyzewski and USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo affirmed that Boozer will have a chance to make the team, even though Boozer did not play for Team USA last summer while his young son Carmani battled sickle-cell anemia.
"He's one of the best players," Krzyzewski said.
Krzyzewski also said the Williams is "one of the best guards in the world."
"I was really impressed last year with not only how well he played, but how well he accepted his role," Krzyzewski said. "Basically, he said, 'I'll do whatever you want me to do - whether it's play 5 minutes, no minutes, start. Whatever you want, coach.'"
Williams, in particular, figures to be in a tough fight for a roster spot, with talented fellow point guards such as Jason Kidd, Chauncy Billups and Chris Paul contending for spots. "It's going to be a tough decision," Colangelo said.
Team USA plans to invite 15 to 18 players to a mini-camp in Las Vegas in June, before naming its 12-man Olympic team with three alternates on June 30.
Krzyzewski said that if Boozer makes the team, it won't be because Boozer -- a 2004 Olympian -- played for him at Duke. But Colangelo jokingly responded that Krzyzewski was "sugar-coating it," and that not only did Boozer play for Krzyzewski, but Williams played at Colangelo's alma mater, Illinois.
"So they probably have a good shot," he said.