The USA is going all out for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
As always, Team USA will go to the Summer Games with the gold medal in mind, and they are making sure of that by having multiple NBA First Team members on the squad.
The team also has players who could be the next faces of the league.
Team USA's 12-man squad is composed of Kawhi Leonard (last to be confirmed), Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, reigning MVP Joel Embiid, who chose USA instead of France, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, and multiple MVP winners Steph Curry and LeBron James.
These players were selected and did not undergo tryouts.
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This is an interesting squad.
Steph, KD, Kawhi, and Lebron are all probably trying to pull a Lionel Messi in the FIFA World Cup. This could be the last time they will be in the Summer Olympics.
KD is gunning for his fourth gold medal, while Curry is aiming for his first. Lebron has won it twice, although the last one was in 2012.
Team USA for the 2024 Olympics looks formidable. They always send the best one for this tourney compared to the FIBA World Cup.
This could also be a primer for the USA, which will host the next edition.
The 2024 Paris Olympics will take place from July to August.
Team USA is the favorite, but there is a chance this squad will not be retained by the time the competition comes.
Here's what could happen to the team before and during the Olympics:
1. 2 to 3 players will beg off
It will not be because they do not want to play for the squad. It will be because of injuries.
From the 12-man squad, the players with a higher chance of begging off for the 2024 Paris Olympics are Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard.
The NBA 2024 Playoffs will be grueling, as in any case, and this might take a toll on these players who are always injury-prone.
Embiid has just returned from a knee injury that kept him out for two months early this April.
The Sixers' path to the Finals also became clearer after they earned the seventh spot to face the New York Knicks in the first round.
As for Kawhi, he has yet to see the NBA court since March 31 due to an injury to the knee that was surgically repaired before.
Worth noting, too, is that the Los Angeles Clippers are embarking on a "newer" era. They are moving to a new arena, and they need him as their superstar in the years to come, especially after signing a massive deal this January.
2. Defense will be questionable
Sure, this type of squad proved they could win it all in the Olympics. The 2008 squad led by Kobe Bryant did it. A team of superstars did get the job done.
However, the game is different now. Testament to that is Germany's 2023 FIBA World Cup victory.
They need bodies that can rotate on defense and man the perimeter and the arc.
They lack a big man who can defend the likes of Nikola Jokic of Serbia or Victor Wembanyama of France right now.
It would be great if they could add another player who can man the rim effectively. The best person in mind is Jaren Jackson Jr.
But, of course, it is too early to tell. These are superstars who are always ready to step up to the plate.
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