Report: Six-time All-Star considered top candidate for final Team USA Olympic spot

The Team USA men’s basketball program has reportedly selected 11 of its 12 players for the 2024 Paris Olympics. There’s no shortage of star power among the candidates to fill the final roster spot.

Team USA is reportedly fielding four NBA MVPs in LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Joel Embiid. Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo and Jrue Holiday were also reportedly selected after being part of the 2020 Olympic gold medal squad.

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis returns to the Team USA Olympic lineup after last playing for the 2012 squad. Youngsters Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton round out the first 11 players on the list.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is considered the “leading candidate” for Team USA’s final spot, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Joe Vardon.

Leonard, a six-time All-Star and defensive stalwart, would have been an obvious choice if not for his knee issues. Leonard missed the Clippers’ final eight games of the regular season due to a lingering knee injury.

Leonard’s Clippers teammate Paul George is a candidate to take the Team USA spot. Paolo Banchero, Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson are also reportedly “under consideration” to make the lineup.

The Americans won the last four Olympic gold medals in men’s basketball. After failing to make the podium entirely during the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Team USA appears dead set on sending their A-squad to Paris.