NBA All-Stars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwight Howard became part of the 20 players who will compete for entry in the United States basketball squad for the 2012 Olympics.

List of players that includes eight players who were part of successful teams won gold medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the 10-member team that won the world championships in Turkey.

Title-winning rookie of the year Blake Griffin and printing the most points Portland Trail Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge also will struggle to qualify for the U.S. Olympic squad.

The 12 players who will take part in a U.S. team that will compete in the London Olympics will be announced in the next few months. (Reuters/OL-12)

List of candidates for the players the U.S. basketball team:

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), Carmelo Anthony (New York

Knicks), Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers), Chris Bosh

(Miami Heat), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Tyson Chandler (New

York Knicks), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies), Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers), LeBron James (Miami Heat), Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks), Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers), Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder), Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets).