Meet me in Athens? Maybe not

Shaquille O'Neal shook his head, frowned slightly and shrugged when asked whether he'll play at the Athens Olympics.

"I'm still not sure," the Los Angeles Lakers' center said.

He's not the only one.

There are more questions than answers right now for the USA Basketball selection committee, with only six players considered locks to show up in Greece: Jermaine O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Mike Bibby and Richard Jefferson.

Among those wavering are Jason Kidd, Karl Malone, Elton Brand, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.

Vince Carter, who is getting married this summer, already ruled himself out. Kobe Bryant's availability hinges on the schedule for his sexual assault trial in Colorado.

Among the reasons players are hedging on signing on are nagging injuries, fears of terrorism, and family plans, including a wedding and a birth.

Shaquille O'Neal said his participation in the Aug. 13-29 Olympics will depend largely on how far the Lakers advance in the NBA playoffs, and Minnesota's Garnett sent a similar message to USA Basketball officials.

Kidd has said his participation will depend on his left knee, which could require surgery after the NBA playoffs. Malone and Brand also have injury concerns, and Malone has indicated he's not enthusiastic about traveling to cities where anti-American sentiment has grown.

"The players are definitely concerned about it," Jermaine O'Neal said. "It definitely sits on your mind. Every day you've got TV, and you see how the terrorists are trying to figure out ways to be effective."

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, who will play for China, shrugged off a question Sunday about security concerns in Athens, implying he's satisfied with arrangements at the athletes' village.

The U.S team, citing logistical reasons, will use Olympic housing being provided on cruise ships in Piraeus harbor.

"Sure, I have concerns," Allen said earlier this year. "The walls have been penetrated. As Americans, we never thought they could get through with a suicide bomb. That's something we have to concern ourselves with now, at all the venues."

Allen, expecting a child in September, has since said he is strongly considering relinquishing his roster spot.