USA Basketball’s 41-Man Pool; Notes and Predictions for 2024 Olympic Team

Team USA Basketball has announced a 41-player pool that will be utilized to formulate the final 12-player roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Grant Hill, the national team managing director, led the selection of the 41 players, and hopes to release the final roster during the early portion of the NBA playoffs. Notable names that were included on the list include Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, all pictured above. A bevy of other All-NBA and All-Star level players made the list as well, and it will be difficult for the staff at USA basketball to handcraft a 12-player roster that is the ultimate blend of talent, fit, and leadership. I will attempt to predict what the roster will shape up to look like, placing each of the 41 players in tiers that detail their probability of making the final cut. 

The Locks

G Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), F Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), F LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), F Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), C Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)

These players have all either verbally pledged to participate or is an unquestionable top five player in the league and the reigning MVP. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Jayson have all spoken about playing for the team in the past couple of months. Joel Embiid, originally from Cameroon, obtained his US citizenship last year, and will be a must-add as the big-man and defensive anchor to the starting lineup. I could definitely envision this being the starting five if all are healthy and still committed to playing; at the minimum four of these guys will be featured in the starting lineup. Imagine all five of these talents playing on the same court? 

Yes, IF Healthy and Decide to Play

G Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), F Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers), C Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)

Simply put, the three of these guys deserve a spot on the roster one way or another, with the exception of one of them being unavailable or deciding not to play (Kawhi? AD?). Devin Booker was a staple on the 2020 squad, starting in five of six games en route to a gold medal in Tokyo. Leonard and Davis are undeniable top ten players in the NBA when it comes to two-way impact, and they could both fill more defensive roles with plenty of offensive acumen already on board. If the Clippers were to make a deep playoff run, I would imagine that Kawhi will want to take some time off, but he’d be a solid addition, nonetheless. 

Likely In

G Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), G Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks), F Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers), C Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)

I could’ve gone a number of ways with these last four spots, with a multitude of players deserving of a selection. Anthony Edwards and Damian Lillard round out the four-guard rotation, both being elite offensive options off the bench. Edwards was the leading scorer on the 2023 Team USA squad that played in the FIBA Men’s World Cup. Lillard is an experienced Team USA player as well and brings some additional veteran leadership. Paul George deserves a redemption shot after his gruesome leg injury in 2014 and could be an excellent three-and-D reserve wing. Bam was a member of the 2020 Olympic Team and is a do-it-all big-man that can be utilized behind Embiid and Davis for depth minutes. 

Next Men Up

G Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), G De’Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings), G Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), G Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), G Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers), F Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), F Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), F Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), C Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)

While I think that these players would not make the cut if all 41 players are available come the summer, I would not be surprised to see any nine of these players be selected for the 12-man roster. All of them have unique skills that could be seen as valuable in certain situations during Olympic play, whether it be Jrue Holiday’s point of attack defense, Tyrese Haliburton’s pace and facilitating, or Jimmy Butler’s clutchness and mentality. The sheer amount of offensive talent presumably on the roster already makes the case for a guy like Donovan Mitchell or Jaylen Brown a bit tougher; the aforementioned Holiday, Mikal Bridges, and Jaren Jackson Jr. possess all-world defensive skills and can settle into lesser roles as defensive stoppers.  

Unlikely

G Desmond Bane (Memphis Grizzlies), G James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers) G Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks), G Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks), F Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans), F Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), F Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors), C Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)

All of the players that feature in this group have the talent to make the roster, but they are either not well-rounded enough or are too inexperienced. Harden, Irving, Young, and Ingram are phenomenal players on the offensive end, but lack a true defensive impact that other options possess. Bane, Banchero, Barnes, and Holmgren are simply too young to be deserving of making this acclaimed team. I could see Banchero, Barnes, and Holmgren all making the roster come next Summer Olympics. 

Sorry, but No Shot

G Alex Caruso (Chicago Bulls), G Tyler Herro (Miami Heat), G Chris Paul (Golden State Warriors), G Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers), G Duncan Robinson (Miami Heat), G Derrick White (Boston Celtics), F Aaron Gordon (Denver Nuggets), F Josh Hart (New York Knicks), F Cam Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), F Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks), C Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers), C Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz)

Unfortunately for these players, they will not be hearing their name called to suit up for the ‘24 Summer Olympic Games. Don’t get it twisted; these are all talented, established (for the most part) players in the NBA that contribute lots on a nightly basis at the highest level. The USA Basketball pipeline is simply too deep, and there are countless players that could undoubtedly play for most other national teams around the world. Some of these players, with the right development over the next four years, could be right in the mix come the ‘28 Olympics.