Team USA has had trouble attracting stars in recent years, but it seems the roster is stacked for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. On Friday,’ The Athletic’s Shams Charania revealed the latest star commitment for Team USA this summer: Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving.
“I’m told Kyrie has a deep desire to represent his country, represent the USA in the Paris Olympics this summer,” said Shams. “He wants to be part of this team.”
Irving, 31, is on the tail end of an impressive season for the Mavericks. With averages of 25.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game on 49.3% shooting, he’s been a consistent source of offense for the team alongside Luka Doncic.
While Irving has skipped Team USA participation over the past few years, he does have an extensive history of representing the country. He was part of the Gold medal team in 2016 and also won four years earlier in 2014 when he captured MVP of the tournament with 26 points in the final game.
As a premier shooter, ball handler, and shot creator, Kyrie Irving is sure to be a major boost in the backcourt for Team USA this summer, and news of his interest in playing is great news for all American sports fans. Between Irving and other stars who have made the commitment, Team USA is set to have a stacked roster for the Olympic Games this year.
Superstars Are Coming Together For Their Last Gold Medal Run
Irving’s potential involvement with Team USA this summer surely stacks the odds in their favor but he won’t be the only big-name star on the roster. In light of Team USA’s fourth-place finish in the FIBA World Cup last year, stars around the league are ready to take revenge and send a message that the USA still runs the international basketball scene.
After the loss to Canada, LeBron James and Stephen Curry were among the first stars to express interest in joining Team USA in 2024, and this set the stage for other high-profile players to follow them.
As of February 2024, several top-tier players are considered as “locks” for the tournament, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, and Devin Booker. Other players like Bam Adebayo, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jrue Holiday might also make the cut when the final roster is announced later this year.
Of course, this wave of star participation is a welcome change to what had been a growing trend in the NBA. Dating back several years now, the most elite NBA stars hesitated to participate in the games and it resulted in a major decline in performance for Team USA.
As international superstars like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic began to lead their own countries to success, the USA was being left in the dust and abandoned by its own players.
This year, with much of the previous generation in the final stages of their basketball careers, this may be the last chance for them to suit up for the USA — and they aren’t going to let it go to waste.
With a superstar team-up that rivals the Avengers, Team USA is about to be the story of the summer and all eyes will be on them as the tournament plays out in Tokyo in a few months.
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