USA Basketball confirmed Monday what has been known for days: Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade is headed back to the Olympics.

At a Chicago news conference this morning, Wade was one of 12 players selected for the roster that will represent the United States at the Beijing Games in August.

It is the second Olympic selection for the shooting guard, who returned from the 2004 Athens Olympics with a bronze medal.

Wade also represented the United States at the 2006 World Championships in Japan, also returning with a bronze.

The final step for Wade was convincing Olympic team chairman Jerry Colangelo, the former Phoenix Suns executive, that he was sufficiently recovered from late-season treatment on a chronically troublesome left knee.

Colangelo viewed Wade at a Chicago workout two weeks ago and felt confident enough to submit Wade's name for inclusion. The 12-man U.S. roster is due July 1, with changes only allowed if a player is deemed unable to compete.

Also named Monday to the national team were: Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh, Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd, New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul, Detroit Pistons forward Tayshawn Prince, Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd and Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams.

Wade is expected to play a sixth-man role, behind a staring lineup of Howard at center, Anthony at power forward, James at small forward, Bryant at shooting guard and Kidd a point guard.

The Olympic team will be coached by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, who will be assisted by New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan and Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim.

"This has been, to say the least, an extremely difficult selection process," Colangelo said in a statement. "Whatever I say will not fully describe just how difficult this selection process has been. We knew it would be difficult when we began the building of the Senior National Team program. It has become obvious that it would be in the best interest of the team, the players and coaches, to select the 12 players prior to our June 28-29 minicamp so we could begin the process of gelling and getting the team's focus set.

"The 12 players selected have incredible talent, and more importantly, we think this team has excellent leadership; great versatility and balance; and very good chemistry which are critical parts in building a great team. I believe this team is a team all Americans can and will be proud of."

Said Krzyzewski, "Our team has excellent athleticism and great versatility. We have players who are experienced in the international game thanks to the last two summers' training and competitions. I feel really good where we are, we have the foundation in but we have a lot work ahead."

Wade missed last summer's Olympic qualifying due to May 2007 knee and shoulder surgeries.