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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LOUIS -- Vladimir Tarasenko is known for his goal-scoring ability. Now hes starting to show other parts of his game.Tarasenko had a goal and two assists and Alex Pietrangelo scored the go-ahead goal as the St. Louis Blues beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Thursday night.Jori Lehtera, Nail Yakupov and Patrik Berglund also scored for the Blues, who overcame an early two-goal deficit. Jake Allen made 24 saves as St. Louis improved to 13-1-3 on home ice.Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said Tarasenko is showing an all-around game.The part that was good for me was in the third period, he competed defensively, Hitchcock said. Thats a big step. He was willing to work for the next goal if it came, and I think thats just maturity in a player. I think youre starting to see the maturity in a player, which is a really good sign for this franchise.Adam Henrique and Miles Wood scored for the Devils, while Cory Schneider made 26 saves. New Jerseys losing streak is at a season-high four games and the Devils dropped their seventh straight game against St. Louis.Henrique gave the Devils a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal at 7:39 of the first period. Tarasenko whiffed on a shot from the point for the Blues, sending Henrique and Travis Zajac in on a 2-on-1.Wood scored 4 minutes later to give the Devils a 2-0 lead. Wood put it in an open net after Henriques initial shot went wide and caromed off the boards in front of the net.Tarasenko got the Blues on the board when he scored his second goal in three games on the power play with 2:54 left in the first period. Brad Hunt got an assist and has a point in all four games with the Blues since being called up from the AHL on Dec. 8.I thought the one that got us going was the first goal, Hitchcock said. Hes (Tarasenko) not feeling great, hes on for both goals, and then to get one back on the power play kind of just brought us back. To me, we were off and running after that goal.Schneider saiid Tarasenko has one of the best shots in the league.dddddddddddde can hold his stick up high, he can look you off or just shoot it at a moments notice without any windup or anything like that, Schneider said. Hes always been a tough guy to play against and to read and hes obviously one of the premier players in the league.Lehtera deflected a shot by Robby Fabbri for the Blues at 2:05 of the second period to tie it 2-2. It was Lehteras fourth goal of the season and first since Nov. 22 at Boston.Tarasenko found Pietrangelo through the back door for an even strength goal to give the Blues a 3-2 lead at 7:45 of the second period.Not a set play, but 4-on-4 is more of a creative game, Tarasenko said. We have really good players like Alex and he can read the game well so if he gets open its easier to get the puck to him.The three-point night gave Tarasenko 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in his last five games.When you shoot the way he does, goalies and d-men really have to respect it, Pietrangelo said. It opens up a lot of seams.Yakupov made it 4-2 in the third period with his this third goal of the season and first since Oct. 20.Tarasenko has 22 assists through 31 games and is on pace for a career-high 58.St. Louis tightened defensively, holding the Devils without a shot for the first 11:23 of the second period.Game notes Blues D Kevin Shattenkirk dressed in his 395th game, tying Jimmy Roberts for 12th on the all-time franchise list among defensemen. ... St. Louis Blues assistant general manager Martin Brodeur won Stanley Cups with New Jersey in 1995, 2000 and 2003. ... Devils F Sergey Kalinin played in his 100th NHL game. ... Devils F Luke Gazdic played in his first game of the season.UP NEXTDevils: Will travel to Ottawa on Saturday night.Blues: Will host Chicago on Saturday night. Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Discount NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Hoodies Cheap Jerseys Throwback Cheap Jerseys Throwback ' ' '