Getty Image / Ethan Miller
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are just over three months away, and anticipation is building every day. That includes the hype for the USA Men’s Basketball Team, which was expected to have a loaded roster with a lot of stars opting in.
On Monday, USA Basketball finalized 11 of the 12 spots. As you’d expect, the roster is completely loaded.
Sources with @joevardon: Team USA is finalizing 11 of its 12-man Olympic roster:
LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo and Tyrese Haliburton.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 15, 2024
This will be the first Olympics in Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry’s career. I’m sure fans are itching to see him play on international basketball’s biggest stage.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will make his fourth Olympics appearance, winning bronze in 2004 before back-to-back gold medals in 2008 and 2012.
Those two, plus Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, are the headliners on who made the roster in terms of legacy. But, most of the conversation revolves on who didn’t make it.
Here are the players in the selection pool that weren’t selected
– Jarrett Allen
– Paolo Banchero
– Desmond Bane
– Scottie Barnes
– Mikal Bridges
– Jaylen Brown
– Jalen Brunson
– Jimmy Butler
– Alex Caruso
– De’Aaron Fox
– Paul George
– Aaron Gordon
– James Harden
– Josh Hart
– Tyler Herro
– Chet Holmgren
– Brandon Ingram
– Kyrie Irving
– Jaren Jackson Jr.
– Cam Johnson
– Walker Kessler
– Kawhi Leonard
– Damian Lillard
– Donovan Mitchell
– Chris Paul
– Bobby Portis
– Austin Reaves
– Duncan Robinson
– Derrick White
– Trae Young
You could easily make a gold medal team out of the guys who didn’t make it! There are some huge names of guys still in their prime not on the roster.
I think the biggest snubs are Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Those are guys that seem made for international basketball, especially Leonard and George. Their size, defense and shooting are elite.
Meanwhile, Brunson has been the best American point guard in the NBA this year. To see him likely miss out on the Olympic Team is sad.
That being said, there were always going to be stars who were snubbed off the team. Such is life when you’re picking a USA Men’s Basketball National Team.