Post by Admin on Jun 22, 2021 21:10:41 GMT
The Tokyo Olympics are just over a month away, and the USA Basketball men's roster is complete.
USA Basketball had to narrow down a field of 57 players to 12 for the games. Several players committed in recent days, filling out the roster that'll once again be considered the favorite for the gold medal.
Here's who's in:
Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets
James Harden, G, Brooklyn Nets
Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers
Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns
Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics
Bradley Beal, G, Washington Wizards
Khris Middleton, G/F, Milwaukee Bucks
Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat
Draymond Green, F/C, Golden State Warriors
Jrue Holiday, G, Milwaukee Bucks
Kevin Love, F, Cleveland Cavaliers
Brook Lopez, C, Milwaukee Bucks
While the roster looks strong, it is also missing some big-name players who turned down a shot at gold:
LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis, F/C, Los Angeles Lakers
Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors
Kyrie Irving, G, Brooklyn Nets
Jimmy Butler, G/F, Miami Heat
Donovan Mitchell, G, Utah Jazz
Chris Paul, G, Phoenix Suns
And several other star players didn't make the cut: Zion Williamson, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young, Mike Conley, Zach LaVine, Julius Randle, Jaylen Brown, and more.
There are two factors to watch: Team USA isn't particularly big. Brook Lopez is the only 7-footer. Bam Adebayo is a full-time center but is listed at just 6-foot-9. Draymond Green can play center but is only 6-foot-7. The U.S. will be leaning on shooting and length, and rim protection could be an issue if Lopez gets played off the floor, or Adebayo gets into foul trouble.
It's also possible that four players — Booker, Middleton, Holiday, and Lopez — play in the NBA Finals, meaning they'll miss training camp for the Olympics. The turn-around would be incredibly tight, as Game 7 of the Finals is scheduled for July 22, one day before the games begin. Would an incomplete roster during training camp negatively affect the team?