USA - Howard wants another chance to lift Naismith Trophy

HOUSTON (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Dwight Howard feels a full range of emotions when he looks back and remembers his three summers with the United States basketball team.

There were highs and lows, ecstasy and agony.

There were lessons learned.

"It was a lot of fun, for one," Howard said to FIBA about his international basketball experience.

"Also, just learning the different rules and playing against the guys overseas is a little bit different.

"They're crafty overseas, they do a lot of different things on the floor.

"The way they play defense in the post, the way they box out - all that stuff is a little bit different so I learned some tricks from some of the guys overseas."

Howard and the United States were reminded in 2006 that they are not unbeatable.

Every opponent is different and dangerous.

Greece were the foes on 1 September, 2006.

They had the better team that day in their Semi-Final match-up, upsetting the United States, 101-95.

What does he remember from that time?

"We were very disappointed that we lost," Howard said.

"We were hoping to win that year. I thought we had a very, very good team.

"I thought we were young at the time. We really wanted to win.

"We ran into a Greece team that was very, very good."

Howard had 10 points and seven rebounds that day, but what stands out are the struggles on defense that day.

"I can recall that game like it was yesterday," Howard said.

"They ran one play that we couldn't stop, a high pick-and-roll.

"They either got Baby Shaq (Sofoklis Schortsanitis) in the paint for a lay-up or (Vassilis) Spanoulis coming off (a screen) for a three.

"It was a tough game for us, but we learned a lot.

Even so, it was hard game to get over, although it helped that Howard didn't lose a game the next two years with Team USA.

He celebrated title wins at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and the 2008 Olympics.

Howard is eager to return to the fray.

He missed out on the 2010 world title win, and the 2012 Olympic gold medal.

In the pool of players USA Basketball will select from for their teams in 2014 through 2016, Howard is very clear about his intentions.

"I want to be there with those guys," Howard said

"Hopefully this summer, we'll get ourselves a world championship and we'll come back here (United States) and celebrate."

The United States will play in Group C at the World Cup in Bilbao against Turkey, Ukraine, Finland, the Dominican Republic and New Zealand.

FIBA