LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are among nine members of the 2008 Beijing Olympic US basketball team who confirmed their place in the squad aiming to defend the title in 2012.

A total of 11 past Olympians were among the 27 players named by USA Basketball on Wednesday for the pool of talent that will represent the United States globally starting at this year's world championships in Turkey.

"This is another important step in the reassembling of the US national team for the next three years of competitions that will include the FIBA world championship in 2010, and if we qualify, the 2012 Olympics in London," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said.

Returning to the US lineup from Beijing are Bryant, James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.

Also on the list are Amare Stoudemire of Phoenix and Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers, who were both on the 2004 Athens Olympic squad that settled for a bronze medal, sparking the three-year system of development that the announcement launched for another cycle.

The remaining players on the US national team pool are LaMarcus Aldridge of Portland, Chauncey Billups of Denver, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo of Memphis, Eric Gordon of Los Angeles Clippers, Danny Granger of Indiana, Andre Iguodala of Philadelphia, Al Jefferson and Kevin Love of Minnesota, David Lee of New York, Brook Lopez of New Jersey, Kendrick Perkins of Boston, Derrick Rose of Chicago and Gerald Wallace of Charlotte.