HOUSTON -- Carmelo Anthony was the first player Jerry Colangelo talked to about joining a new U.S. national basketball team program. Now, hes the last one standing.An Olympic career that started miserably is still going 12 years later, so long that some of Anthonys teammates were middle schoolers when it began. He will become the first U.S. man to play in four Olympics, and if the Americans medal he will leave Rio de Janeiro as the most decorated mens basketball player ever.Hes going to be the leader of this team along with (Kevin Durant). And to have somebody who, this will be his fourth Olympics, that level of experience -- and hes still a great player -- and commitment, its a godsend, really, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. Hell be one of key factors in us attempting to win the gold medal.Anthony already owns two of those, along with a bronze. He figures to shatter many of the U.S. records he doesnt already own, and even Michael Jordan and LeBron James should be looking up at Anthony on the teams scoring list before the end of the Rio Games.And to think, there were people wondering why Colangelo approached Anthony at all in 2005 after his petulant performance a year before in Athens.Here we are, this is his fourth and hes the first guy that I had spoken with, Colangelo said. And its great to see in my mind, the career hes had, and its great for us to know that hes had so much success with us, in terms of the international game, and hes thrived in the international game.Nobody knows that better than Nigeria, the Americans opponent here Monday in their final exhibition game. Anthony scored a U.S.-record 37 points against them in just 14 minutes of a 156-73 rout four years ago, setting American records by going 10 of 12 from 3-point range.All the guys, once I hit that first one, guys they knew at that point, especially from earlier in the day at shootaround, Anthony said. As players, guys who can get hot like that, you can see that from a mile away. I didnt see it, but Im guessing they saw it and their goal was just to get me the ball.That team, like four years earlier in Beijing, had James, Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul, veterans who were Anthonys friends for years. They all passed this team, leaving the 32-year-old Anthony to learn a new group of teammates who are almost all on the other side of 30, but he said this trip is really no different.I think it just took kind of a couple days to just kind of really figure everybody out from a personal level, he said. As far as being basketball players, that was the easy part.The New York Knicks All-Star considered not playing but was urged to return by U.S. assistant Jim Boeheim, his coach at Syracuse when Anthony led the Orange to the 2003 NCAA title.I told him basically, I said, `Look, you had two or three bad years. Lets go have a good experience playing basketball, Boeheim said. And thats what this.It wasnt in 2004, when Anthony was among the last additions to a U.S. team that lost three times and left with a bronze medal. The then-rookie provided a bad attitude and not much good play, but Colangelo met with him early in the 2005-06 season and told Anthony he was interested and would be watching him that season.Anthony has made the most of his second chance and gone on to play 72 games in a U.S. uniform, nearly the equivalent of a full NBA season. Hes the team leader in 3-pointers at the Olympics and ranks in the top five in most other categories.Anthony needs 17 points to tie Jordan for third place on the U.S. list in the Olympics and needs 35 to pass James as the career leader. Even if he never wins an NBA championship, his international achievements alone should be enough to secure Anthony a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.I never really thought about it like that, Anthony said. As far as the NBA championship goes, as long as Im in this league, I have the opportunity to go win an NBA championship or try to compete to win an NBA championship. Winning a gold medal dont come around as often, you know what I mean? So this was it was a very difficult but it was a very honest conversation I had to have with myself.An inexperienced U.S. team should benefit from the answer.Im very happy that he decided to do this. This is more than a win-win, Colangelo said. I think for his legacy, I think it speaks volumes. 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I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Odell Beckham Jr. has been seen screaming on the sideline this year, but hes not yelling to give him the damn ball.Beckhams emotion spilled onto the sideline during recent losses to the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings. New York Giants wide receivers coach Adam Henry, who was also Beckhams position coach at LSU, has been one of the voices in the star wide receivers ear.Hes a very passionate player. [I] just tell him to stay within the game, Henry said Friday. Hes doing well. He wants to win. Hes highly competitive, one of the most competitive guys I know.Not once has he ever asked anybody to throw him the ball or do anything. Hes just ... he wants to win. Hes like all of us. Just stay the course and do what you do best.Beckham has talked in the past about his intense desire to win, no matter what it is hes doing. The Pro Bowl receiver even said prior to the start of the season hed be more than willing to sacrifice stats for victoriees, especially after the Giants went 6-10 last season.ddddddddddddI definitely want to get better each and every year, Beckham said prior to the season. The numbers mean something in a sense, but the 6-10 number, flip that around, 10-6 means a lot more.I just hate losing. Im cool with other people being open, were scoring. Theres no better feeling than being on the field and everything is clicking and were winning games.Beckhams production has dipped early this season. He has 27 receptions for 359 yards and one touchdown in five games. His targets have decreased slightly, from 10.6 per game to 10.2.Henry doesnt think this has anything to do with the emotional outbursts that occurred earlier this season. The coach sees the same competitiveness with the Giants that he saw from Beckham at LSU.Hes always been competitive, Henry said. Always. ' ' '