A star-studded roster of the United States' best basketball players has been assembled for the Paris Olympics as Team USA seeks its 5th-straight gold medal.
USA Basketball announced its men's Olympic team for Paris on Wednesday – LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards and Kawhi Leonard.
"I'm grateful to these 12 men for their commitment to represent USA Basketball," USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill said in a statement. "The United States is home to some of the best basketball players in the world and I appreciate the vast interest in being part of this roster. These decisions weren't easy but it was a pleasure to go through the process and reach this outcome."
The amount of talent on the U.S. roster is staggering. Of the 12 commits, seven finished the season ranked among the NBA's top 15 scorers per game. James is the league's all-time scoring leader, Curry the all-time leader in 3-pointers, Haliburton won the assist-per-game title this season and 10 were All-Stars this season as well.
"We have the utmost respect for the level of competition we will face this summer," Hill said. "The Olympics represent the pinnacle of sport and the world will be watching the USA as we play in the toughest basketball tournament in history."
The team boasts seven players with a total of 10 Olympic gold medals; Durant holds three, James has two, and Adebayo, Booker, Holiday, Tatum, and Booker each have one. The upcoming Paris Games will mark the first Olympic appearance for Curry, Leonard, and Embiid – the latter decided to represent the U.S. last year after gaining American citizenship. Despite his eligibility to play for France, the Cameroon-born center opted to compete for the United States.
Durant is aiming to make history. Should the U.S. team secure gold in Paris, he will become the first male player in Olympic history to win four basketball gold medals.
Currently, Durant and Carmelo Anthony are the only male players with three Olympic golds; in contrast, there are six women, all American, who have earned at least four Olympic basketball gold medals. Players like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi have five golds each, while Teresa Edwards, Tamika Catchings, Sylvia Fowles, and Lisa Leslie have each claimed four.
Despite not medaling in the last two World Cups, the American team has clinched the last four Olympic gold medals and continues to hold the top spot in the world rankings by FIBA. The team placed seventh in China in 2019 and fourth in Manila last summer.
High Hopes for Team USA in Paris Olympics
Anticipation is building for the upcoming Olympics in Paris, with Team USA's basketball roster generating significant buzz. The team, boasting a lineup of NBA superstars, is considered a top contender for the gold medal.
While other nations like France, Germany, Serbia, and Canada will also be vying for the top spot, the depth of talent on the American team sets them apart. With a history of dominance in Olympic basketball, having won 16 gold medals, one silver, and two bronze, Team USA is poised for success once again.
Leading the team in Paris will be head coach Steve Kerr, supported by assistant coaches Erik Spoelstra, Tyronn Lue, and Mark Few.
