USA basketball roster for Paris Olympics to feature LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid
In anticipation of the upcoming Paris Olympics, Team USA is assembling a formidable roster, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Headlining the lineup are basketball luminaries LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Joel Embiid.
Joining them on the court will be a cadre of elite talents, including Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis, as outlined in the report.
Sources suggest that Team USA may choose to initially leave one roster spot vacant. Steering this star-studded ensemble will be Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, with assistance from coaching heavyweights Tyronn Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers, Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat, and Mark Few of Gonzaga.
Of note, Tatum, Durant, Booker, Holiday, and Adebayo bring experience from the Tokyo Olympics, where Team USA clinched gold in 2021. James, absent from that roster, marks his return to Olympic competition for the first time since securing gold in London in 2012.
This marks James’ fourth Olympic appearance, having previously tasted victory in 2008 and claiming bronze in 2004, the last time the USA fell short of gold.
For Curry, the Paris Games present a debut opportunity. Although anticipated to participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics, injuries sidelined him, making this his inaugural Olympic appearance.
Likewise, Embiid will make his Olympic debut, having pledged his allegiance to Team USA over France or his native Cameroon. Notably, Embiid holds dual citizenship between the USA and France.
As Team USA aims for redemption following last summer’s FIBA World Cup disappointment in the Philippines, formidable opponents loom. Notably, host nation France boasts potential talents like Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, while Serbia may feature Nikola Jokić, and Canada expects to showcase Shai-Gilgeous Alexander.
