After all those Space Jam jokes — and consecutive failures over the last two FIBA Basketball World Cups — Team USA has enlisted the veritable big guns to reassert its hooping dominance at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
Multiple sources indicate 11 of the 12-man line-up has been finalised, which currently features the following NBA-tested superstars primed to restore their nation’s former glory:
- LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
- Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
- Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
- Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
- Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)
- Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers) is currently the leading candidate for that final spot on Team USA’s roster; with Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), and Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) also under consideration.
Other potential picks in the conversation include Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), Alex Caruso (Chicago Bulls), Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks), Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks), and of course, Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks).
As pointed out by BH‘s in-house basketball pundit Henry Garnett last September, this effectively offers LeBron James the opportunity to reunite with Team USA assistant coaches Tyronn Lue and Erik Spoelstra — both of whom have previously coached him to NBA titles (Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, respectively).
Coaching personnel is also what’s ostensibly sealed the deal for Steph Curry, who (surprisingly enough) is only set to make his Olympics debut at the ripe age of 36. While the Baby-Faced Assassin has represented the red, white, and blue in a FIBA World Cup, it’s understood he wasn’t invested in the 2024 Olympics campaign until Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr entered the picture.
The sheer concentration of talent here is not to be trifled with. Suffice it to say, the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics suddenly just became way more interesting.
