Team USA confirms its selection of 12 players for the Olympic Games in Tokyo | NBA

It’s official: we know the identity of the 12 players who will defend the colors of Team USA at the 2020 Olympic Games, from July 23 to August 8.In Tokyo, the American selection, big favorite to its own succession, will simply aim for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal, after those gleaned in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

Note that such a quadruplet has not been seen in the men’s Olympic tournament for more than 50 years, and the Americans’ septuplet (already), between 1936 and 1968.

A bloated workforce

And the least we can say is that the workforce of Team USA for this “2020” edition of the Olympic Games does not lack talent, depth, experience (28.2 years old on average) and complementarity.

On the back lines, we find Damian Lillard (Blazers), Bradley Beal (Wizards), Devin Booker (Suns), Zach LaVine (Bulls) and Jrue Holiday (Bucks).

On the wing, it is perhaps even more impressive, considering the presence of Kevin Durant (Nets), Jayson Tatum (Celtics), Khris Middleton (Bucks) and Jerami Grant (Pistons).

Finally, the American domestic sector will be composed of Bam Adebayo (Heat), Draymond Green (Warriors) and Kevin Love (Cavaliers).

Despite the hardships, Gregg Popovich’s roster looks great

This XXL workforce will obviously be coached by Gregg Popovich (Spurs), who will play there the first Olympic Games of his career. What particularly delights him, as specified in a press release.

« I am happy for the selected players and I am already looking forward to working with this wonderful group, starting July 6, for the start of training camp in Las Vegas. I am excited to be able to represent the United States in our quest for the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. »

And the historic San Antonio coach will be supported on the bench by Steve Kerr (Warriors), Lloyd Pierce (ex-Hawks) and Jay Wright (Villanova, NCAA).

For his part, for his last international competition as General Manager of Team USA, Jerry Colangelo said he too ” nice to meet you “ by this selection, which was far from being easy to compose, as he insisted on recalling.

« The selection process was unusual and complicated for several reasons, from the one-year postponement of the competition to issues with the NBA season schedule. Our squad includes internationally experienced players and this team features athleticism, versatility and a certain balance. We also believe that we have great leaders, which is necessary to develop collective chemistry. We still have a lot of challenges to face, but I have no doubts that these players will form a team that Americans will be proud of. »

Kevin Durant, leader of a whole revenge band

Precisely, the leader of this workforce will probably be Kevin Durant, Olympic gold medalist in 2012 (London) then in 2016 (Rio), and who has somehow “composed” the roster with Damian Lillard.

In addition to “KD”, who will become the fourth American basketball player to appear in three different Olympiads (after David Robinson, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James), two other players have also participated in the Olympic Games in the past: Kevin Love (2012) and Draymond Green (2016).

As for Jayson Tatum and Khris Middleton, they have also already played in an international competition with Team USA: the 2019 World Cup, after which their selection finished 7th. A real snub for this nation, historically accustomed to dominating its adversaries on an international scale.

Present in Group A in Tokyo, two years after their disappointing World Cup, therefore, the United States will first cross swords in the first round with France (July 25), Iran (July 28) and the winner of the TQO Canadian Victoria (July 31). Before potentially playing a quarter-final (August 3), a semi-final (August 5) then a final (August 7).

Unlike previous Olympics, the “2020” Olympic champion will have to play six matches this year, against eight previously. As a reminder, Team USA has not lost in an Olympic tournament since 2004, that is to say 25 matches, and a semi-final lost against Argentina, future gold medalist of the competition.

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