Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is set to return to the men's national team along with several top NBA players after the USA’s poor performance in the FIBA World Cup 2023. Team USA registered a medal-less disappointing fourth-place finish after losing to Germany in the semi-final and Canada in the bronze medal game.
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According to The Athletic, LeBron James, a three-time Olympian, two-time gold medalist, and the NBA's all-time leading scorer, is eager to compete in one more Olympics. He is also prepared to commit for next summer and has also called several other athletes to essentially recruit them to travel to Paris with USA's Basketball team.
Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant have all had conversations with James and are ready to commit. According to separate reports, Devin Booker of Phoenix, Damian Lillard of Portland, De'Aaron Fox of Sacramento, and Kyrie Irving of Dallas also have a genuine interest in committing.
The Paris Olympics are deemed a "Last Dance" for USA Basketball by James, who hasn't competed for Team USA since the London 2012 Games and will turn 39 in December, and Durant, a three-time Olympian and gold medalist who will be 35 by next summer.
The 36-year-old Curry, who has never competed in the Olympics but has won two World Cups with the American team in 2010 and 2014, is similarly anticipating next summer. According to sources, James, Durant, and Curry have discussed making one final run in the USA together. Team USA is anticipated to undertake a thorough training camp and preseason tour of potentially many nations before arriving in France, where the Olympics begin on July 26, 2024.
