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Can Team USA's current roster live up to the legacy of past gold medalists?

3 weeks from now, the bright city of Paris will host the 2024 Summer Olympics. Spanning over 16 days, the highly awaited event will feature the best international players from over 32 sports to participate in the ultimate honor. For basketball, Team USA will be flying to France with a roster including some of the best NBA stars of the modern era to secure their 5 consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Since 1936, the USA roster has been working to establish itself among the best of the best on the international stage. Today, they have 25 Olympic gold medals, 16 in the men’s and 9 in the women’s basketball tournament. With the former Soviet Union holding the 2 rank with just 4 gold medals, it will take over a century before anyone could come close to touching the USA’s record. Without a spec of doubt, LeBron James and Co. will be heading to Paris as the favorite. With this, let us take a look at what awaits our eyes.

Team USA’s schedule for the 2024 Paris Olympics

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Men

The Paris Olympics will host the basketball tournament from July 27 to August 11. Before the main event, however, an Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQTs) has already commenced (July 2-7). With separate games taking place in Greece, Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain, a part of the schedule for the main Olympic matchups will be determined on the basis of who wins the OQT rounds. The inaugural game of this edition will take place between Australia and the winner of the OQT ESP.

via Reuters

For Team USA there was no qualifying round. The first matchup for the men’s roster is on July 28, against Serbia. Quite a few NBA stars will go up against each other, as Denver Nuggets center and 3x NBA MVP Nikola Jokic will take charge of his national team. Television networks with the rights to showcase the games will cover the matchup live from 11:15 a.m. ET (Eastern Time) onwards.

After the opener, the men’s roster will head into a few days of rest, as Team USA’s women’s basketball camp will have its first Olympic clash against Japan. Followed by the men’s team, on July 31, going head-to-head against South Sudan at 3 pm ET. The basketball team of this East African country is newly minted, with the 2024 Paris Olympics marking their first time on this grand stage!

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Can Team USA's current roster live up to the legacy of past gold medalists?

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The Men’s roster’s last regular game will be next up, against the winner of the Olympic Qualifying Round that was held in Puerto Rico. Their performances during these three mentioned games will ultimately determine Team USA’s position in the QFs.

Women

The women’s roster will kick off late, as its 1st game against Japan is on July 29 at 3:00 PM ET. The game will be a major challenge for the US since the Japanese women’s team was successful in securing the silver medal at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. A 3-day gap will then proceed, after which they will go up against Belgium on August 1 at 3:00 PM ET.

The women’s team’s final group phase game will be against Germany. The Paris Olympics will also mark the first time that Germany’s women’s counterpart has qualified after trying out since 1988!

Team USA Depth Chart

Men

After Team USA’s disappointing 2023 FIBA World Cup stint, the roster was overhauled and new additions have been made. While some veteran players make a return, some of the most renowned NBA players, who couldn’t participate in the previous editions, were invited.

LeBron James will lead the Team USA Men’s roster. This will mark the NBA All-Time Lead Scorer’s 4th Olympic tournament, having previously secured Bronze at the 2004 Athens Games and Gold in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games.

NBA’s All-Time Three-Pointers leader, Stephen Curry, will serve at guard. Despite having 15 years of NBA experience in his name, this will be Curry’s first Olympic tournament. Veteran, Kevin Durant will be returning for his 4th consecutive Olympic tournament, while his Suns teammate Devin Booker will be returning for his 2nd.

No stone has been left unturned.

The roster of the Team USA (Men) for the 2024 Paris Olympics will look something like this:

POSITIONS
Point GuardStephen CurryTyrese HaliburtonJrue Holiday
Shooting GuardDevin BookerAnthony Edwards
Power ForwardLeBron JamesKawhi Leonard
Small ForwardKevin DurantJayson Tatum
CenterJoel EmbiidAnthony DavisBam Adebayo

Women

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The announcement of the Women’s roster that will head to Paris initially faced backlash. WNBA’s star rookie Caitlin Clark not making the roster upset many. 22-year-old Cameron Brink had to be withdrawn after developing a season-ending torn ACL on her left knee. Despite this, a star lineup will participate and WNBA veterans Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, and A’ja Wilson will lead the way.

With this, the roster of the Team USA (Women) for the 2024 Paris Olympics will look something like this:

PLAYERPOSITIONWNBA TEAM
Napheesa CollierForwardMinnesota Lynx
Kahleah CopperGuard / ForwardPhoenix Mercury
Chelsea GrayGuardLas Vegas Aces
Brittney GrinerCenterPhoenix Mercury
Sabrina IonescuGuardNew York Liberty
Jewell LoydGuardSeattle Storm
Kelsey PlumGuardLas Vegas Aces
Breanna StewartForwardNew York Liberty
Diana TaurasiGuardPhoenix Mercury
Alyssa ThomasForwardConnecticut Sun
A’ja WilsonForward / CenterLas Vegas Aces
Jackie YoungGuard / ForwardLas Vegas Aces

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Before leaving, be sure to check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about the Lakers legend’s infamous feud with the late Kobe Bryant.

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