Team USA's roster for 2024 Paris Olympics starting to take shape
The 12-man roster to represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics is reportedly more or less set. According to The Athletic, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker will make up the "expected core of the team barring injury," per sources close to NBA insiders Shams Charania and Joe Vardon.
The report added that at least some of this core seven has "already begun initial planning and public commitments related to their Olympic participation," per sources in USA Basketball.
As for the remaining five players, blossoming stars Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton "are under strong consideration" in light of their impressive showing for Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Two of the remaining three spots are expected to go to big men, with Heat star Bam Adebayo and Lakers star Anthony Davis "considered strong candidates" to back up Embiid, the starting center.
If all eleven of the aforementioned players make the cut, that leaves only one spot. While the report did not hint at any potential favorites, the 41-player pool announced by Team USA in January included former Olympic gold medalists such as Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul, James Harden, Paul George and Damian Lillard, all of whom would be valuable additions to the squad.
Kawhi Leonard -- who skipped both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics -- was also a part of the 41-player pool. Many feel the former two-time NBA Champion should be the favorite to get the 12th spot.
The pool also included a younger crop of players such as Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes and Chet Holmgren. Traditionally, at least one roster spot has gone to an NBA rookie or sophomore.
It's worth noting that The Athletic's report only relays information passed on from USA Basketball sources and does not claim the Olympic squad is set in stone. In January, USA Basketball announced that the team would be revealed "at a later date" without providing any specific timeframe. The draw to determine Team USA's opening-round opponent will be revealed on March 19 in Lille, France.
The Paris Olympics gets underway on July 26, a month after the conclusion of the 2024 NBA Finals.
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