LeBron James, center, between Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis, attends a practice session ahead of the start of basketball competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Wednesday in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France.
Michael Conroy/AP
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Michael Conroy/AP
PARIS — An all-star men’s basketball team, led by NBA legends LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry, is looking to bring home a fifth straight Olympic gold medal from Paris Summer Olympics.
They may be the favorites of the 12 teams, but as the world’s best basketball league continues to spread its talent to the nations in Olympic competition, gold is no guarantee.
That’s because the U.S. team could be facing its biggest international competition yet: The 1992 “Dream Team” faced nine other NBA players at the Olympics. Now, at the Paris Olympics, the U.S. team will face more than 60 NBA players.
“This game has become global,” Durant said at a news conference in Paris on Thursday, three days before Team USA’s first game at the Summer Olympics. “All of these guys are big stars in their own right.”
Looking at the international roster, Durant — the U.S. men’s Olympic scoring leader — named Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), who represents Greece, as well as silver medalist Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) of Serbia, when talking about who he expects to emerge as the tournament’s biggest stars.
U.S. men’s basketball teammates Kevin Durant (right) and Stephen Curry attend a press conference at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Thursday, in Paris.
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Michel Euler/AP
Like Antetokounmpo, this is also Curry’s first Olympics.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the best players in the world and competing against some of the best players in the world, and supporting other athletes across the country and around the world,” Curry said.
Durant — who is headed to his fourth Olympics — has spoken about how the Olympics provide a unique opportunity to energize the world’s top athletes, including the South Sudan team, on their journey to international success.
“Actually, I’m a little bit of a supporter of them, except when they play us,” Durant said.
NBA stars will put aside internal rivalries to compete under one flag.
Curry and Durant are teammates for the first time since Durant left Golden State in 2019. Golden State Warrior star Curry said the familiarity of playing with Durant for those three years will give them an advantage.
“You thrive on that preparation to give you confidence,” Curry said. “We’re here to do business, but we’re also here to continue to learn from each other.”
Adding to that familiarity is Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who will lead an Olympic team that includes Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards and Kawhi Leonard.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, will carry the American flag at the Opening Ceremony on Friday to kick off what is expected to be his final Olympics.
The basketball tournament runs from July 27 to August 10. Team USA’s first game is on July 28 against Jokic’s Serbia team at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France.
If Team USA Takes Home Gold, Paris 2024 Will Be a Strong Comeback debate on whether NBA title winners can call themselves “world champions.”
When asked who he was most looking forward to playing against, Curry replied: “Anyone in the gold medal game.”
