Brian WindhorstESPN Senior Writer3 min read
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NBA superstars, including past gold medalists LeBron James and Anthony Davis, have expressed strong interest in joining USA Basketball for the 2024 Paris Olympics, sources tell ESPN debuted on.
Sources told ESPN that Curry has expressed interest in playing for his Golden State Warriors coach, Steve Kerr.
Several players from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics gold medal-winning team, including Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker and two-time gold medalist Draymond Green, are not participating in this summer’s FIBA World Cup. Sources told ESPN he will return.
Sources told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that Chris Paul, who won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012, is also considering competing in the Olympics again.
Kevin Durant has won three Olympic gold medals and is a candidate to compete again.
Team USA has made some recruiting pitches for Joel Embiid, who holds American and French citizenship, but the Philadelphia 76ers star has so far been noncommittal.
Obviously, health will play a big role in team unity. James, Davis and Embiid have all battled insults at the end of recent seasons.
James, 38, won bronze in 2004 and gold in 2008 and 2012. Davis won a gold medal in 2012 and was part of the World Cup-winning team in 2014 when he competed for Team USA.
The past three major international basketball tournaments have been held in Asia, where schedule changes and the coronavirus pandemic have led to superstar players committing to challenge the United States.
USA Basketball executive director Grant Hill said participating in this year’s World Cup is not a requirement for the Olympic team.
The United States has won the past four Olympic basketball gold medals but only two of the past six World Cups.
The United States failed to win a medal at the World Cup in Manila.