USA Basketball announced it has taken the first step in selecting the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team - and things just got exciting.
Headlining the star-studded list is LeBron James, who will likely walk into the Olympic arena for the final time at 39 years old.
USA’s leading Olympic point scorer Kevin Durant has a lot on the line as he attempts to set the record for the most Olympic golds of any basketball player in history, while Steph Curry could finally make his Olympic debut.
The 41-player pool drew athletes from 24 NBA teams across the USA, with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics having the highest representation, each with four athletes in the pool.
Read on to find out the United States players to watch in the lead-up to Paris and more information on when the final roster will be announced.
Kevin Durant and LeBron James celebrate suring the gold medal game against Spain at the London 2012 Olympics Games
Athletes to follow in the selection process
Paris will likely be the final time that ‘King James’ will step onto an Olympic court as a player. The 2024 Games fall 20 years after his Olympic debut at Athens 2004 when he was selected for his first Games as a teenager. As the NBA’s all-time highest point scorer, James will be looking to add a third Olympic gold to his extensive list of accolades.
Durant came onto the Olympic scene the last time LeBron competed at the Games, making his debut at London 2012 and returning home as the USA’s highest point scorer in a gold medal-winning team. He was named MVP at Tokyo 2020 and will head to Paris as the USA’s leading point scorer in Olympic history. If the U.S. can pull off a fifth consecutive gold, Durant will be the only male player in history to have four Olympic titles.
Curry is yet to step onto the Olympic stage, having passed on Tokyo to rest and pulled out of Rio 2016 due to knee and ankle injuries.
Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid is another name likely to make headlines in Paris.
Born in 2002, Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero (21) and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren (21) are the two youngest players in the pool.
Grant Hill, the national team managing director, confirmed USA Basketball hopes to have a finalized 12-player roster by late April, around the time the NBA playoffs kick off, according to NBC.
Kevin Durant goes up for a dunk against Rudy Gobert during the Men's Basketball Finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
USA Basketball’s Olympic History
Since 1936, USA Basketball has made 19 Olympic appearances, and claimed 16 medals.
They have never once failed to make the podium, other than the Moscow 1980 Games when the nation did not participate.
The team suffered a devastating upset against Argentina at the Athens 2004 Games, but has since taken every Olympic title and is now hoping for a fifth consecutive gold.
The star-studded player pool that includes James, Durant, Embiid and Curry might just come together to be the most exciting roster since Barcelona 1992’s Dream Team of Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson.
Gold medallists the United States pose after winning the London 2012 Olympics Games
USA Basketball's 41-player pool
Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson (Miami Heat). Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers). Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic). Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder). Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies). Devin Booker, Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns). Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White (Boston Celtics). Damian Lillard, Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks). Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors). Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson (Brooklyn Nets). Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart (New York Knicks). Alex Caruso (Chicago Bulls). Steph Curry, Chris Paul (Golden State Warriors). Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Austin Reaves (LA Lakers). Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves). Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers). De’Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings). Paul George, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers). Aaron Gordon (Denver Nuggets). Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers). Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans). Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks). Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz). Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks).
The pool is subject to change.
