Anthony’s Athens bling lacks luster

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Carmelo Anthony always seems to be grinning. Whether he’s running sprints, shooting free throws or icing his knees, his expression rarely changes.

Maybe the grin is his way of masking the disappointment he has felt in his heart since the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Since Anthony committed to the current Team USA program in March 2006, he has been motivated by the 2004 team’s failure to win the gold medal. Now, he and three ’04 teammates are headed to Beijing with a goal of making up for the bronze medal the U.S. settled for in Athens.

“I think about it every day,” Anthony said. “I don’t dwell on it, but I never forget.”

It’s why Anthony, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carlos Boozer returned to the revamped Team USA program. And on a team full of superstars, Anthony might be shining the brightest.

That might seem unusual, given the presence of James and Kobe Bryant, but the 6-foot-8-inch Denver Nuggets forward has led the U.S. team in scoring the last two years. Anthony averaged 19.9 points in the 2006 FIBA World Championships and 21.2 in the 2007 FIBA Americas Tournament.

Despite his ups and downs with the Nuggets, Anthony is seemingly unflappable while wearing red, white and blue.

“I love being here,” he said Thursday as the Americans ended four days of training camp at Valley High School and prepared to play Team Canada at 5 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center. It is the first of five exhibitions for the U.S. before its Aug. 10 Olympic opener against China.

“I have so much fun being out here with these guys,” Anthony said. “There’s no pressure. I got LeBron on one wing, I got Kobe on the other wing. I got Jason Kidd getting me the ball. I got Dwight Howard to work with down low. Every morning, I used to wake up wishing I could play with LeBron, I could play with Kobe. Now I get to do that, and I’m loving it.”

Anthony insists he has to elevate his game to keep up with his teammates, but the opposite has been the case. He has been leading with his high-level play for two years, and his teammates are forced to match Anthony’s proficiency.

“That’s my challenge every day, to be a leader by example,” he said.

Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said Anthony’s game is well suited for international play because he has the ability to beat the defense and get his shot away before it can be blocked.

“We use him in a way where he doesn’t need the ball for long,” Krzyzewski said. “With our penetrating, ball screens and all that, you lose him. He and Michael Redd are our best shooters, and in terms of catching and shooting, he’s our best at that.”

Krzyzewski said he would not hesitate to run a play for Anthony if a game gets tight in Beijing, and Anthony is eager for the opportunity.

“Bring it on,” he said. “I’ve taken plenty of big shots in my life. If I get the last shot with two seconds on the clock, I’m going to take it. And I always think I’m going to make it.”

• NOTES — James will not play tonight because his sprained right ankle still isn’t 100 percent. Wade will start in his place. … Tickets remain, but a strong walk-up crowd is expected to make the game a sellout. … Fans are encouraged to arrive early because of limited parking around the Thomas & Mack. Late arrivals might be forced to park in auxiliary lots.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.