NBA stars are expressing heavy interest in playing for Team USA in 2024 Paris Olympics
The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris may be the last time some of the NBA's greatest players in the current generation get a chance to represent Team USA. Perhaps as a result, many of them have already committed to playing for the American team come 2024.
At the NBA media days events for their teams, the Lakers' LeBron James and Warriors' Steph Curry — who has yet to compete in the Olympics — expressed interest in playing for Team USA if they were asked. Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant was more direct about his intentions.
"I will play in the Olympics next year," Durant said at Suns media day.
.@KDTrey5: “I will play in the Olympics next year.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/q5M3veliVB
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 2, 2023
While those are some of the biggest names in the NBA to have expressed interest, they are far from the only ones and are also relatively closer to the ends of their careers than some others.
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2024 Olympics Team USA basketball team
During NBA media days, many players indicated their desire to return to or make their debuts with Team USA in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. With only 12 roster spots up for grabs, the U.S. national team's managing director, Grant Hill, will have some tough decisions to make.
Here are all of the NBA players eligible to play for the United States that have expressed interest in recent weeks:
Anthony Davis, Lakers
Paul George, Clippers
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers
Draymond Green, Warriors
Devin Booker, Suns
Bradley Beal, Suns
Aaron Gordon, Nuggets
Fred VanVleet, Rockets
Kyrie Irving, Mavericks
DeMar DeRozan, Bulls
Zach LaVine, Bulls
Khris Middleton, Bucks
Brook Lopez, Bucks
Zion Williamson, Pelicans
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers
Julius Randle, Knicks
Jaylen Brown, Celtics
Kyle Kuzma, Wizards
Trae Young, Hawks
Jimmy Butler, Heat
Bam Adebayo, Heat
“Yeah, I wanted to play this summer, but I had other obligations. I would’ve had to leave early, so I wasn’t able to go. We’ll see what happens.”
Kawhi Leonard says he would play for Team USA if they ask him to in the Paris Olympics.
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/C33lbGugDA— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 3, 2023
In addition, 76ers star and reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid could play for the U.S. team or France with his dual citizenship, or he may opt to play for his home country of Cameroon should they qualify for next year's Olympics.
"I'm probably going to make that decision in the next few days," Embiid said at Philadelphia's media day on Monday.
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Team USA Basketball
Of course, Teams USA's most recent roster was made up of those players who participated in America's fourth place finish in the FIBA World Cup this summer. Those names can be expected to factor into Kerr's decision-making for the Olympics as well.
Here's what that roster looked like:
Paolo Banchero, Magic
Mikal Bridges, Nets
Cam Johnson, Nets
Jalen Brunson, Knicks
Josh Hart, Knicks
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
Brandon Ingram, Pelicans
Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies
Walker Kessler, Jazz
Bobby Portis, Bucks
Austin Reaves, Lakers
Olympics 2024
Paris will host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games next summer from July 26 until Aug. 11. The basketball tournament will run from July 27 to the gold-medal game on Aug. 10.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 Paris Olympics: Team USA may feature LeBron James, Steph Curry