While James, Durant and Curry have all represented Team USA in major international competitions, the trio has never been on the same roster together.
The 38-year-old James won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012, Olympic bronze medals in 2004, and FIBA World Cup bronze medals in 2006. The four-time NBA champion hasn’t played for Team USA in more than a decade, but Paris could provide an international send-off.
Lakers player LeBron James expressed his interest in representing the United States men’s basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics: “I don’t think it’s going to be too hard on the body. I don’t have to do too much. Bounce a little bit. Get over it a little bit.” Guard. Block some shots.” pic.twitter.com/Pq733mNlz0
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) October 2, 2023
“I’m definitely interested,” James said. “We’ll see what happens. As for the physical toll, we’ll see how I feel at the end of the season. From the players we have here, I can immediately think of filling out the roster and I don’t think it’s going to cause too much Big body loss. I didn’t have to do too much. Bounce back a little bit. Get over there a little bit. Defend. Block some shots.”
Durant competed alongside James in the 2012 Olympics before leading the program to gold medals in 2016 and 2021. The 35-year-old Durant is the all-time leading scorer in U.S. men’s basketball history and teamed up with Curry to win the gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Cup.
“I’m going to the Olympics next year,” Durant said.
Curry, 35, won two FIBA World Cup medals in 2010 and 2014, but he has yet to compete in the Olympics. Longtime Warriors coach Steve Kerr took over the USA Basketball coaching reins from San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich last summer, setting the stage for Curry to make his first Olympic appearance later in his career. Base.
“I’ve talked to some people about the opportunity and, of course, if everything stays the same, I want to play,” Curry said. “This is one thing I haven’t done yet. This is a chance for USA Basketball to re-establish itself as a dominant (team) in the world. I definitely want to be there. I definitely want to be on the team. Hopefully things will be like that We’re all there as well.”
Team USA recently finished fourth at the FIBA World Cup, losing to Lithuania, Germany and Canada in Kerr’s first game as head coach and Grant Hill’s first as general manager. Hill and Kerr will be responsible for determining the final 12-man roster, which may also include Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.
Reigning NBA MVP Embiid said he is deciding whether to play for Team USA, France or Cameroon. The seven-foot center, who was born in Cameroon and holds dual U.S. and French citizenship, said Monday he would make a decision “in the coming days.”
“My goal is to go to the Olympics,” Embiid said. “I like all three options.”