Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum are some of the stars who have reportedly committed to USA Basketball this summer.
The pandemic robbed sports fans of countless events and championships, but maybe none more significant than the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. But now, a year later, the games are set to take place this summer and Team USA's men's basketball team is slowly but surely taking shape.
Training camp, now led by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, will start July 6 in Las Vegas, with the roster expected to be announced later this month.
USA Basketball has won gold in the last three Olympics and is the favorite to do so again this summer as it yet again touts a roster full of NBA stars.
Here are the players who have reportedly committed to the U.S. basketball team so far:
- Damian Lillard, PG, Trail Blazers: Lillard has never competed in the Olympics before, but he is coming off one of his best NBA seasons to date and will take part on the team, per The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick. He averaged 28.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 2020-21 with the Blazers, who lost in the first-round of the playoffs.
- Devin Booker, SG, Suns: Booker has committed to the team, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. He is in the midst of leading the Suns throughout their Western Conference finals playoff run. He finished the regular season season averaging 25.6 points, 4.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game.
- James Harden, SG, Nets: Harden is joining the U.S. team, per The Athletic's Shams Charania. Harden battled a right hamstring strain throughout the regular season and postseason but looks like he'll give it a go in Tokyo. He averaged 24.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 10.9 assists this season with Brooklyn.
- Bradley Beal, SG, Wizards: Beal will play in his first Olympics this year as well, per The Athletic. He led the league in scoring this season at 31.3 points per contest.
- Jayson Tatum, SF, Celtics: Tatum, 23, is already a two-time All Star and will play in his first Olympics as well, per Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. Tatum was a member of the 2019 World Cup team and had a solid year in Boston. He averaged a career-high 26.4 points per game.
- Kevin Durant, SF, Nets: Durant is no stranger to the Olympics — having won gold in 2012 and 2016. He will join the team and go for his third gold medal, according to The Athletic. He averaged 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game this season.
- Draymond Green, PF, Warriors: Green won gold as part of the 2016 team and has committed to this year's Olympics, per The Athletic. This past season was yet again a stellar one for Green defensively. He was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award and was named to the All-Defensive First Team.
- Bam Adebayo, C, Heat: The Heat big man has joined Team USA and will compete in his first Olympics, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The 23-year-old averaged a career-high 18.7 points this season and was named to the All-Defensive Second Team.
Here are some notable players to opt out of the Olympics:
- Stephen Curry, PG, Warriors: One of three finalists for MVP this year, Curry will skip this year's Olympics, per The Athletic.
- Donovan Mitchell, PG, Jazz: Mitchell led his team to the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference, but will opt out of the Olympics to recover and rehab from an ankle injury, according to ESPN.
- Jimmy Butler, SF, Heat: Butler will opt to rest this summer and has declined the trip to Tokyo this summer, per the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang.
- LeBron James, SF, Lakers: After an early playoff exit, James confirmed that the only thing he was focusing on this offseason was promoting his upcoming Space Jam sequel and recovering for next season.
- Anthony Davis, PF, Lakers: Davis is not expected to commit to Team USA basketball this summer, per The Athletic's Joe Vardon. Davis was at the mercy of a groin injury at the end of this season and will likely use the summer to rest.
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