LeBron James, center, with Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis, center, during a practice ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics basketball tournament in Villeneuve-Asker, France on Wednesday.
Michael Conroy/AP
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Michael Conroy/AP
PARIS — A star-studded men’s basketball team, led by NBA superstars LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, is trying to capture a fifth Olympic gold medal at the Summer Games in Paris.
They may be the favorite of the 12 teams to win, but as the world’s best basketball league continues to spread talent to nations in the Olympic competition, gold medals are no guarantee.
That’s because Team USA may be about to face its most intense international competition yet: the 1992 “Dream Team” competing against nine other NBA players at the Olympics. Now, at the Paris Olympics, Team USA will compete against more than 60 NBA players.
“This sport is global now,” Durant said at a news conference in Paris on Thursday, three days before Team USA competes in its first game at the Summer Olympics. “All of these guys became superstars in their own way.”
Speaking of the international roster, Durant, the U.S. men’s all-time Olympic scoring leader, singled out Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), who represents Greece, and Serbian silver medalist Nikou when talking about his players. La Jokic (Denver Nuggets).
USA Basketball teammates Kevin Durant, right, and Stephen Curry attend a press conference for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Thursday.
Michel Euler/AP
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Michel Euler/AP
Like Antetokounmpo, this is also Curry’s first time participating in the Olympics.
“I’m looking forward to playing with and against some of the best players in the world, while also supporting other athletes across the country and around the world,” Curry said.
Durant, who is about to compete in his fourth Olympics, spoke about how the Games provide a unique opportunity for the world’s top athletes, including South Sudan’s team, to draw energy on their journey to international success.
“Privately, I just kind of support them, except when they play us,” Durant said.
NBA stars will put aside intra-league competition and compete under the same banner.
Curry and Durant are teammates for the first time since Durant left the Golden State Warriors in 2019.
“You thrive on this preparation, and it gives you confidence,” Corey said. “We’re here for business, but we’re also here, so we’re going to continue to learn from each other.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is also adding more familiarity. He will lead an Olympic team that includes Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Tyrese Ha Liberton, Anthony Edwards and Kawhi Leonard.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, will begin his final Olympics by hoisting the American flag during Friday’s opening ceremony.
The basketball game lasts from July 27th to August 10th.
If Team USA captures the gold medal, Paris 2024 will be a potent return to the debate over whether the NBA champions can truly call themselves “world champions.”
When asked who he was most looking forward to competing against, Curry said: “Whoever gets to play in the gold medal game.”
