Rondo looks good in red, white, and blue

Despite rumblings that Rondo would be left off the 2010 World Championships roster, he has survived the first round of cuts for Team USA, according to USABasketball.com. The four players cut were JaVale McGee, Gerald Wallace, Tyreke Evans, and O.J. Mayo. (USA Basketball)

Named as finalists for the USA World Championship Team were Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder);Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Jeff Green (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala(Philadelphia 76ers); Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets);Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom(Los Angeles Lakers); Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics);Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Russell Westbrook(Oklahoma City Thunder).

The 2010 FIBA World Championships will be held August 28-September 12 in Istanbul, Turkey. Director Jerry Colangelo and Coach Mike Krzyzewski will have to make three more cuts to trim the roster down to 12 before the tournament.

Team USA will reconvene in New York City for more training on August 10. On August 15th, USA will begin a series of exhibition matches, taking on France at Madison Square Garden. Team USA will also play Lithuania on August 21st  and Spain on August 22nd–both games in Madrid, Spain– and Greece on August 25th in Athens, Greece.

The U.S. will open the 2010 World Chamionships on Aug. 28 against Croatia.USA will play in Group B, with Croatia, Brazil, Iran, Tunisia, and Slovenia.