Despite being the favorite to win the gold medal at this year’s FIBA World Cup, Team USA finished the competition in very disappointing fashion, losing the bronze medal game to Canada in overtime, 127-118.
This is the second straight time the squad failed to capture a medal in a World Cup competition.
Buy Lakers TicketsThe 2024 Summer Olympics are slowly but surely nearing, and USA Basketball needs to resolve its issues ASAP in order to reclaim its rightful place on top of the world in international competition.
To that end, Los Angeles Lakers superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as well as several others, are reportedly ready to commit to playing in next year’s Olympics in Paris.
LeBron James has spoken to Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and Draymond Green, and they are all prepared to commit to the 2024 Summer Olympics.
(@ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/Dfa4ESzMeJ
— The Laker Files (@LakerFiles) September 11, 2023
Via The Athletic:
“LeBron James, a three-time Olympian, two-time gold medalist and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, has so strong an interest in one more Olympics that he is ready to commit for next summer and has also called multiple stars to essentially recruit them to join him with USAB in Paris, multiple league sources told The Athletic,” wrote Shams Charania and Joe Vardon.
“James has spoken to Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum and Draymond Green, and they are all prepared to commit as well. Separately, Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Dallas’ Kyrie Irving also have serious interest in committing, league sources said.”
Some Lakers fans may not want either James or Anthony to participate in the Olympics, given the fact both have been injury-prone in recent seasons.
James was once one of the NBA’s most durable players, but in his five seasons with L.A., he has appeared in more than 56 games just once. He is now 38 years of age, and limiting his workload and responsibilities is a priority for the Lakers.
Davis hasn’t played in more than 70 regular-season games since the 2017-18 season, which was his penultimate campaign with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The two Lakers superstars played together on the 2012 Olympic team that won the gold medal in London.