USA Basketball is enduring justified criticism in the U.S. media after a disappointing fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The field continues to take steps forward. Meanwhile, the U.S. national team appears out of its depth, the result of fielding questionable rosters and strategies given how FIBA rules differ from the NBA. The current roster lacks prior men’s national teams’ experience and features only three current All-Stars, another factor behind their recent struggles.
In response to that disappointing showing, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James committed to play for the U.S. Olympic team next summer and has reached out to some high-octane peers to help him get USA Basketball back on top per recent reporting from The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Shams Charania.
“James has spoken to Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum and Draymond Green, and they are all prepared to commit as well,” writes The Athletic.
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“Separately, Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox, and Dallas’ Kyrie Irving also have serious interest in committing,” they add.
Such a lineup actually making it to the 2024 Paris Olympics is a big ask given the ages of James, Curry, Lillard, Green and Durant and Davis’ spotty health. However, such a group would go a long way toward determining whether the issue behind USA’s FIBA foibles in on-Olympic years is star power or the need for Team USA to invest in a full-time coach, greater continuity and a roster structure better focused on the FIBA environment.
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