USA Basketball finalized its star-led roster for the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, receiving pledges from Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine and Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant, while Brooklyn Nets star James Harden withdrew from a hamstring injury , USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo told ESPN.
The team will be highlighted by Kevin Durant, who will go on to win his third gold medal. He and former Golden State Warriors teammate Draymond Green are the only returning members of the 2016 team that won a gold medal at the Rio Olympics. But the roster is stacked with All-Stars playing in their first Olympics, including Damien Lillard, Bradley Beal, Bam Adabayo and Jayson Tatum. Kevin Love, who was on the gold medal winning team in London in 2012, is also in the team.
Three players on the roster — Milwaukee Bucks stars Khris Middleton and Jew Holiday and Phoenix's Devin Booker — are still active post-season and can play until July 22, the latest date for NBA Finals Game 7.
Team USA's first match in Japan is to be against France on July 25. But all three have committed to travel to Japan by private plane, Colangelo said.
"Life is about relationships, and we've had relationships with all these players over the years," Colangelo said. "It's been a process, and it hasn't been easy."
The loaded team was the result of the domino effect of strong long-term recruiting and early committing to some big names. In recent weeks, Colangelo, national team director Sean Ford and coach Greg Popovich have all been on the phone and sold a style of play.
Unlike in 2019, when the Americans finished a disappointing seventh in the World Cup with a team with traditional centers and limited shooting, the roster is full of players who can play in multiple positions and are shooting specialists.
“Versatility and athleticism are trademarks of this group,” said Colangelo, who will retire after the Tokyo Games after 16 years leading Team USA. "Our staff think it will be a very competitive group and we will have shoots that we lacked. We are going to camp with the belief that we are going to do well."
Team USA will gather on July 4 for training camp in Las Vegas and play exhibition games against Spain, Australia, Nigeria and Argentina before leaving for Tokyo.