12/6/2023 0 Comments 2012 wizards roster![]() If any of the interested superstars make a deep playoff run, they would be making a massive commitment of their time and their bodies following a grueling season. The Olympics start July 26, 2024, and Team USA is expected to have a full training camp and preseason tour to perhaps multiple countries before arriving in France. Granted, the Tokyo Games were postponed a year due to COVID-19, and pandemic protocols were still in place when those Olympics ultimately took place, but there is no question that what an American star says in October can change by the time July rolls around. Tatum won gold in 2021 and was on the 2019 World Cup team.īut rampant speculation and near commitments - even if the players mentioned above were to emerge on NBA media days and declare themselves “in” for 2024 - do not necessarily mean these more established stars will be in Paris.įor instance, following the 2019 World Cup, in which the Americans finished a disappointing seventh and sent a roster of players who at the time were not considered “A” listers (Tatum didn’t reach that level until after the World Cup), numerous stars, including James, expressed interest at the start of their NBA training camps of playing for Team USA at the Tokyo Games.Īmong them, only Durant followed through and was on the floor in 2021. Davis won gold with James in 2012 and a world title with Curry in 2014. In addition to Durant’s three Olympiads, he also was part of the 2010 world championship team. James played for Team USA from 2004 to 2008 and returned for the London Games. If these older NBA stars indeed play for Kerr next summer in Paris, it would be a case of passing the baton backward. ![]() Kerr said “part of the deal with USAB is you pass the baton on to the next coaching staff, the next group of players,” and, “we’re unique in that we have a deep talent pool and a lot of very worthy players and I think those players and coaches all deserve to have the honor of wearing this USA jersey.” Hill spent last NBA season having conversations with players on a dual tract: one to fill the 2023 World Cup roster and another to begin recruiting for Paris.Īfter the Americans were knocked out of title contention last week by Germany, USA coach Steve Kerr was asked about the Americans’ new trend of roster turnover from summer to summer. Generally, numerous USA officials readily acknowledge that not only will the Paris team look different from the one that just finished the World Cup, but the next iteration was likely to come with considerably more star power. USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill is aware of the interest from James and of other well-established American stars but declined further comment to The Athletic. Tatum, Green and Lillard were all gold medalists in Tokyo, and Durant was the MVP of that team. James, Durant and Curry have spoken to one another about one last USA run, together, sources said. ![]() James, who has not played for Team USA since the 2012 Games in London and will turn 39 in December, and Durant, a three-time Olympian and gold medalist who will be 35 by next summer, are viewing the Paris games as a “last dance” with USA Basketball, sources said.Ĭurry, who will be 36, has never played in an Olympics but won two World Cups in 20 with the American team and is viewing next summer similarly. While the American national team has struggled at the last two World Cups, the program has won four consecutive golds at the Olympics. James’ effort started well before the USA World Cup team, led by Anthony Edwards and Mikal Bridges, lost at the World Cup and was not related to whether this summer’s team won or lost. Separately, Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Dallas’ Kyrie Irving also have serious interest in committing, league sources said. James has spoken to Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum and Draymond Green, and they are all prepared to commit as well. LeBron James, a three-time Olympian, two-time gold medalist and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, has so strong an interest in one more Olympics that he is ready to commit for next summer and has also called multiple stars to essentially recruit them to join him with USAB in Paris, multiple league sources told The Athletic.
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