Military members get treated to an Olympic preview

Raquel Enero

As American athletes prepare to represent the country abroad during the Olympics in London this summer, the basketball team provided a special experience to those who serve the United States in another way. The USA Basketball team hosted an open practice for military personnel and their families at the D.C. Armory recently, The Associated Press reports.

With mascots, cheerleaders, food and other festivities, the practice felt more like an NBA game than an Olympic practice, the news outlet reports.

"... Every day with USA Basketball is a little bit different," coach Mike Krzyzewski told the news outlet. "Not bad, but certainly different. But today was different in a very spectacular way. All of our guys were proud to be here."

Of course, the NBA feel to the practice was taken even further when military families saw the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony dribbling and dunking across the court.

The practice was likely organized by Krzyzewski, who played and coached at the U.S. Military Academy and rose to captain before retiring from the Army in 1974. The practice had just as much significance for the players.

"Just being here in front of these guys, the troops and the military, you can't put into words how that made us feel," Anthony told the news outlet.
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