USA Basketball today unveiled its team for the Tokyo Olympics, which will aim for a fourth consecutive title.
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Jerami Grant (Detroit Pistons), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks), Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks) et Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).
The coaching staff is led by Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs) with as assistants Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), Lloyd Pierce and Jay Wright (University of Villanova) and Jerry Colangelo as general manager of the men’s team.
“We are thrilled with the 12 players who have been selected to represent the United States at the Tokyo Olympics,” said Colangelo, who has been the GM of the United States Men’s National Team since 2005. “It was a Exceptionally difficult selection process for many reasons, including the one-year postponement of the Olympics and issues with the NBA regular season and playoff schedule. Our roster includes players who have experience in the international game, and this team has exceptional athleticism, versatility and balance. We also believe that we have great leadership which is a necessity to develop the necessary chemistry. We still have a lot of challenges ahead of us, but I think these players will become a team that all Americans will be proud of. ”
The roster features the return of Olympic gold medalists Durant, Green and Love. Durant and Green were members of the gold medal team at the 2016 Olympics and Durant and Love were gold medalists in 2012. Durant and Love were also members of the 2010 USA team that won the Cup. World Cup, and Middleton and Tatum were members of the 2019 World Cup squad.
With his selection to the US Olympic team, Durant becomes the fourth US player selected to three or more Olympic teams. Carmelo Anthony (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) holds the record, while LeBron James (2004, 2008, 2012) and David Robinson (1988, 1992, 1996) each have three Olympic medals. Durant, who was also voted MVP at the 2010 World Cup, was the USA’s leading scorer in the last two Olympics.
The average age of the 12 players in Tokyo will be 28.2, the third-oldest American men’s Olympic team in history, behind Atlanta in 1996 (29.4) and Barcelona in 1992 (29 , 0).
After the opening of training camp on July 6, the USA will play five warm-up matches against Nigeria on July 10, followed by Australia on July 12, Argentina on July 13, Australia for the second time on July 16 and Spain July 18. All matches will take place at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Mandalay Bay.
The Americans won a medal in the 18 editions of the Olympic Games in which they participated – they boycotted that of Moscow in 1980 -, including 15 gold, one silver and two bronze. Their record is 138-5 (0.965 winning percentage) at the Olympics.
In Tokyo, they will be in Group A alongside France, World Cup bronze medalists, Iran, 2017 Asian Cup finalists, and the upcoming winner of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Canada. .
Photo: Kevin Durant (FIBA)
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