LeBron James is gearing up for another Olympic stint, while Stephen Curry eyes his debut at the Games, and Kevin Durant aims to etch his name in history. These basketball icons are just a few highlights of the star-studded lineup Team USA has assembled for the Paris Olympics.
According to sources familiar with the matter, USA Basketball has secured commitments from 12 players, including James, Curry, Durant, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, and Kawhi Leonard. Notably, seven of them have already clinched gold medals in previous Olympic appearances.
Speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, the sources revealed that Leonard, a finalist in the last two Olympic selections, was the final addition to the roster puzzle. The talent pool is remarkable, with seven of the committed players ranking among the NBA’s top 15 scorers per game this season. James holds the league’s all-time scoring record, Curry reigns as the leader in 3-pointers, Haliburton claimed the assist-per-game title, and ten were named All-Stars this season.
Sources indicate that players across the NBA were informed of USA Basketball’s decisions over the past few days. Grant Hill, the managing director of USA Basketball, spearheaded the meticulous process of assembling the roster over several months. The strategy was to finalize the team well ahead of the training camp scheduled to kick off in Las Vegas in early July, with tryouts not factoring into the plan for this exceptional squad.
Durant has reiterated his intention to play since last year, aiming to become the first men’s player in Olympic history to secure four basketball gold medals. Alongside Carmelo Anthony, he stands as one of the only men’s players with three Olympic golds, while six women, all American, boast at least four Olympic basketball golds. Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi lead with five each, while Teresa Edwards, Tamika Catchings, Sylvia Fowles, and Lisa Leslie each have four.
Seeking his fourth medal, LeBron James, after earning bronze in 2004 and golds in 2008 and 2012, joins the pursuit. Other past gold medalists on the roster include Davis (2012), Adebayo (2020), Booker (2020), Tatum (2020), and Holiday (2020). Notably, the 2020 gold medals were secured in 2021 due to the pandemic-related postponement of the Tokyo Games.
Stephen Curry gears up for his Olympic debut, alongside Joel Embiid, who opted to represent the U.S. last year after gaining American citizenship. Embiid, originally from Cameroon, had the option to play for France at the Paris Games.
Joining as first-time Olympians are Haliburton and Edwards, both of whom contributed to the U.S. team’s fourth-place finish at the World Cup in Manila last year.
The commitments come as little surprise; Durant and Curry expressed their desire to play last October, while Adebayo had already committed at that time. It has long been assumed that players like James, if willing, would readily join the roster.
With a storied history of 19 Olympic appearances, the U.S. men’s basketball team boasts 19 medals—16 gold, one silver, and two bronze.
Steve Kerr will coach the Paris team, supported by Erik Spoelstra, Tyronn Lue, and Mark Few. However, potential changes to the roster remain a possibility before the summer, should injuries or NBA playoff commitments prompt reconsideration from players.
