NBA players LeBron James and Stephen Curry are among those who have been selected by US selectors for the Paris Olympics. Kawhi Leonard was added to the 12-man roster on Tuesday, according to ESPN.
According to the sports website, which cited anonymous sources, USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill had just visited with the most of the invitees, including Los Angeles Clippers forward Leonard, who had been selected for the 12th and last roster position.
ESPN was among the media sources claiming that the USA Basketball team had been selected, even though the organization had not yet released an official statement.
While James, the 39-year-old star of the Los Angeles Lakers, will attempt to capture his third Olympic gold, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors will be competing in his first Olympics.
Star player Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns, who would be vying for a fourth medal, is among the other athletes set to compete for gold in Paris.
Along with Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jrue Holiday (Boston), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), and James’s Lakers teammate Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, the Cameroonian-born center for the Philadelphia 76ers, who said this year that he had chosen to represent the United States, is also reportedly headed to Paris.
During the regular season, Leonard averaged 23.7 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Clippers. Due to discomfort in his surgically repaired right knee, he has missed the last eight games.
Although he practiced with the club on Tuesday, it was still unknown if he would be available for the Clippers’ opening round playoff game on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks.
The American men finished with a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Games, but they have since won four gold medals in a row. Steve Kerr, the coach of the Golden State Warriors, will be leading them this season.