Carmelo Anthony Commits to Playing in 2010 World Championships

Carmelo Anthony has committed to play in the World Championships in Turkey next year, the Denver Nuggets star told FanHouse on Tuesday.

Anthony said he made up his mind late last season that he wanted to return to Team USA for the event after winning an Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008. He told USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo that, but Colangelo didn't consider his answer binding until the two spoke earlier this month at the Hall of Fame inductions in Springfield, Mass.

"I just told Jerry that I was down,'' said Anthony, who also reiterated to FanHouse on Tuesday his desire to play in the 2012 Olympics in London. "He asked me again. I just told him that I was in. There wasn't really nothing to it. He asked me what I thought. He asked me about the team. I told him I was in.''

Colangelo welcomed the news Anthony would return to the team.

"That's what he said,'' Colangelo, who is overseas in preparation for Friday's announcement in Copenhagen on whether his native Chicago will land the 2016 Olympics, said Tuesday in a brief interview with FanHouse.

Anthony already has said he wants to play in the 2012 Olympics, saying that to the now-defunct Rocky Mountain News while in Beijing last year. He reiterated Tuesday his desire to get another Olympic gold medal.

"I'm trying to get the World Championship gold medal, the (Olympic) gold medal (from Beijing) and another gold medal (from London),'' he said.

Anthony said that "most likely'' the bulk of the team that won the 2008 Olympic gold will play in Turkey.

"Everybody wanted to see if everybody wanted to come back, so, once that got established, it was easy,'' Anthony said of his decision to return.

Colangelo told FanHouse earlier this month that seven players from the Olympic team -- Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams -- told him at last February's All-Star Game in Phoenix that they would play in Turkey. Colangelo, though, still plans to double check this fall with those players to make sure they are on board.

Williams has confirmed to the media he will return. And, although James hasn't made a public statement, Anthony has little doubt he will play.

Anthony, who is good friends with James, said he believes James has already decided to return. If there is any doubt, Anthony said, "I'll get him to come back.,''

Team USA hasn't won the World Championships since 1994.

"I know that,'' said Anthony, who was on the 2006 World Championships team that settled for a bronze medal in Japan.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.