USA Men’s National Team roster is all set, and this is a very good roster.
On Wednesday, USA Basketball announced the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, which will compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, set for July 26-Aug. 11, 2024.
The team is highlighted by 12 players with extensive USA Basketball experience including three-time Olympic champion Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns) and the NBA’s all-time scoring leader LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), who owns a pair of Olympic gold medals
In addition to Durant and James, the 2024 USA Men’s National Team features Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (L.A. Clippers) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).
The team was selected by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill.
Durant, who is also a 2010 World Cup gold medalist, is the USA’s all-time Olympic statistical leader in total points (435), scoring average (19.8 ppg), field goals (146), 3-point field goals (74) and free throws (69). He ranks third in rebounds (118) and blocks (16) and fourth in games played (24) and assists (71).
James, who has scored 273 points (3rd all-time among Americans) in the Olympics, will compete in his fourth Games and first since 2012. He won gold in 2008 and 2012 and made his Olympics debut in 2004 (bronze). James also owns a 2007 FIBA Tournament of the Americas gold medal.
Adebayo (2020), Booker (2020), Davis (2012), Holiday (2020) and Tatum (2020) have won Olympic gold medals and are part of a group that has gone 34-4 in Olympic competition since James’ debut in 2004.
Curry is a two-time World Cup champion (2010, 2014) and will make his Olympic debut this summer. He is one of six players who has competed at the World Cup, including Davis (2014), Durant (2010), Edwards (2023), Haliburton (2023), James (2006) and Tatum (2019). Of the seven World Cup participants, three (Curry; Davis, 2014; Durant, 2010) have also won gold and two (Edwards, 2023; Durant, 2010) have taken home All-Star Five honors. Edwards and Haliburton competed at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Manila, helping to secure the United States’ Olympic bid.
Embiid and Leonard will make their USA Basketball national team debuts when the United States hosts Canada on July 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to open the USA Basketball Showcase.
The 2024 USA Men’s National Team will be led by head coach Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), who is assisted by Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (L.A. Clippers) and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat). Last summer, the quartet coached the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Manila.
USA Basketball will commence training camp on July 6 in Las Vegas. Following the game vs. Canada, the Americans will embark on an international training window that begins when the USA hosts Australia and Serbia on July 15 and 17, respectively, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Australia and Serbia will also face off on July 18 in Abu Dhabi.
The USA Basketball Showcase continues at London’s O2 Arena when the USA men takes on the national teams of South Sudan on July 20 and Germany on July 22.
The NBA announced the All-Star reserves on Thursday night; the All-Star game will take place on February 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
In the East, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, and Paolo Banchero make the All-Star team for the first time.
Below are the rest of the Eastern Conference All-Stars:
Eastern Conference reserves
Bam Adebayo/Miami Heat
Paolo Banchero/Orlando Magic
Jaylen Brown/Boston Celtics
Jalen Brunson/New York Knicks First-time All-Star
Tyrese Maxey/Philadelphia 76ers: First-time All-Star
Donovan Mitchell/Cleveland Cavaliers: Five-time All-Star
Julius Randle/New York Knicks
In the West, the Timberwolves and Clippers get multiple All-Star reserves. Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns got the nod, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George got the call, and Steph Curry is an All-Star for the 10th time in his career.
Below are the rest of the Western Conference All-Star reserves:
Western Conference reserves
Devin Booker/Phoenix Suns
Stephen Curry/Golden State Warriors
Anthony Davis/Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Edwards/Minnesota Timberwolves
Paul George/LA Clippers
Kawhi Leonard/LA Clippers
Karl-Anthony Towns/Minnesota Timberwolves
USA Basketball announced on Tuesday a 41-athlete player pool for the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team. The players were selected by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill and is subject to change.
The 12-member 2024 USA Men’s National Team, which will represent the United States at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Paris, will be announced at a later date.
Featuring 28 players who have represented the USA in Olympics and/or FIBA Men’s World Cup and who together have collected 23 Olympic or World Cup gold medals, the 2024 USA Men’s National Team finalists the following:
Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, Alex Caruso, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid, De’Aaron Fox, Paul George,
Aaron Gordon, Tyrese Haliburton, James Harden, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Jrue Holiday, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Ingram, Kyrie Irving, Jaren Jackson Jr., LeBron James, Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Trae Young.
“The United States boasts unbelievable basketball talent and I am thrilled that many of the game’s superstars have expressed interest in representing our country at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games,” Hill said. “It is a privilege to select the team that will help us toward the goal of once again standing atop the Olympic podium. This challenging process will unfold over the next several months as we eagerly anticipate the start of national team activity.”
The 2024 USA Men’s National Team will be led by head coach Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), who is assisted by Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (L.A. Clippers) and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat). Last summer, the quartet coached the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Manila. Kerr is a 2020 Olympic gold medalist after serving as an assistant coach to Gregg Popovich in Tokyo.
USA Basketball also announced that the 2024 USA Men’s National Team will host Canada at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena as part of the USA Basketball Showcase. The exhibition contest is set for July 10.
The NBA announced Thursday that the Dallas Mavericks will begin the 2023-24 schedule on the road against No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in a nationally televised game(ESPN) on Wednesday, October 25.
National Television:
Dallas is currently scheduled to play 28 nationally televised games, including nine on ESPN, nine on NBA TV, eight on TNT, and two on ABC.
Home-Opener:
After opening the season against division-rival San Antonio on the road, the Mavericks will return to American Airlines Center to face Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets in their home opener on Friday, October 27, at 7:30 p.m. CT. It will mark Dorian Finney-Smith’s first game against his former club.
Christmas Day:
The Mavs will travel to Phoenix to battle the Suns on Christmas Day.
Road Trips:
The Mavericks will play three four-game road trips in 2023-24 (November 12 to 18; February 25 to March 1; March 25 to 31).
NBA In-Season Tournament:
The inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament will begin on Friday, November 3, and culminate with the championship on Saturday, December 9. Dallas will open group play on the road against Nikola Jokić and the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Friday, November 3, at 9 p.m. CT on ESPN. During group play, the Mavericks will also face the L.A. Clippers at home (November 10), New Orleans on the road (November 14), and Houston at home (November 28).
Eight teams (four per conference) will advance to the knockout rounds following group play.
The games across both stages of the In-Season Tournament will count toward the regular-season standings except for the championship.
December & January are full:
The Mavericks are scheduled to play a season-high 16 games in December and January. Dallas has a season-long seven-game homestand from January 3 to 15, which will mark just the second time in the last 10 seasons that the club will play a homestand of seven-or-more games (8 games, February 4 to 23, 2021).
Back-to-Backs:
Dallas is slated to play 13 back-to-backs. Of those back-to-backs, five begin and end on the road, four are road-to-home, three are home-to-road, and one requires no travel (begins and ends at home).
Marquee Matchups at Home:
The Suns’ trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal will make two trips to American Airlines Center this season (January 24 and February 22).
The Warriors’ quartet of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Chris Paul will also visit Dallas twice in 2023-24 (March 13 and April 2). Jokić and the Nuggets will make their lone trip to Dallas on March 17.
Notable matchups against Eastern Conference teams in Dallas include meetings with Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks (January 11), Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics (January 22), Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks (February 3) and Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers (March 3).
Phoenix guard Devin Booker has been named the Western Conference Player of the Week for Feb 27-March 5, the NBA announced Monday.
Booker and the Suns were a perfect 3-0 record over the past week.
In the three games, Booker averaged 36.0 points on 56.0% shooting (50.0% from three-point range), 7.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds.
He had 37 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in a 105-91 win at Charlotte. His 37 points tied as the second-most points scored by a Suns player over the Hornets in franchise history and with his fourth assist in the game, he surpassed Paul Westphal for seventh on the Suns’ all-time assists list.
Booker followed-up his performance against the Hornets with 35 points, six assists and five rebounds in a 21-point, 125-104, win at Chicago. He knocked down six three-pointers in the win to match his career high for triples in the regular season, which he’s now done 20 times. Booker concluded the week with 36 points on 60.0% shooting, 10 assists and five rebounds in the Suns’ win at Dallas on Sunday. The game marked his seventh-career regular season game with 35+ points and 10-plus assists.
This marks Booker’s seventh career NBA Player of the Week, which ties Steve Nash for the most Player of the Week nods in franchise history.
On Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks(33-32) got a combined 82 points(Doncic 42, Irving 40) from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and they defeated the visiting 76ers 133-126.
On Sunday against the visiting Suns(36-29), Doncic and Irving became the first pair of Mavericks teammates to each score 30-plus points in consecutive games. Doncic had 34 points, while Irving scored 30 points.
However, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker almost did to the Mavs what Doncic and Irving did to the 76ers. Booker had 36 points, and Durant had a game-high 37, including the game-winning jumper with 14.2 seconds to go as the Suns defeated Dallas 130-126 at American Airlines Center.
“I’ve been on the other side of it,” Booker said about Durant’s shot. “I know it’s a tough cover. It’s one of those situations where no matter what you do, he’s playing with just him and the hoop out there. His skill set for his size is second none. That was another example of that tonight.”
Durant added on the final shot: “Once I had him on my hip, I felt like I was in good position to just stop on a dime.”
Mavs coach Jason Kidd showed love to Durant.
“I thought that’s what KD [Kevin Durant] does,” Kidd said. “He went away from the double team, and when he rises, he’s longer than 7 feet, and he got to his spot.”
Dallas had a chance to tie, but Doncic’s short floater rimmed out.
“I just missed that one,” Doncic said. “I thought it was in, but I just missed it. One of my friends texted me saying, ‘I would have even made that.’”
After the miss, Doncic and Booker had a little altercation, and the two went face-to-face.
However, neither Doncic nor Booker would say what words were said to cause the confrontation.
“I don’t think you can say it on camera,” Doncic said. “He was talking to me. It’s not for TV. I would get fined… It’s just a competitive game; just next time, don’t wait till there are three seconds left to talk.”
Booker, who added five rebounds and a season-high 10 assists, says he has no issues with Doncic.
“I’m not here to tattle tale,” Booker said. “I was talking to the ref. He said something to me; first, I responded. You guys [the media] always say you don’t want everyone to be ‘friendly-friendly,’ so there you go, you got some smoke. It’s just two competitors going at it. Everybody speaks on how friendly the NBA is now, and they don’t like that. I have no problem with Luka [Dončić] on or off the court, but when we’re competing, we’re competing. You guys are just trying to stir the pot. I don’t have problems with nobody.”
There is a little rivalry between the Suns and Mavs after Dallas defeated Phoenix in 7 in the Western Conference semifinals last season, and Irving can feel it.
“You see it from afar. It’s definitely different, obviously, being out here,” Irving said. “The level of play rises. Emotions rise. I think we see everyone display that on their facial expressions or communicating with the refs, going back-and-forth. At the end of the day, No one is really going to fight out there. “
With the loss, the Mavs are the seventh seed in the West. Dallas is 2-3 on their current six-game homestand, and they conclude the homestand on Tuesday night against the Jazz.
Notes:
The Suns move to 3-0 with Durant in the lineup.
-Doncic added nine rebounds and four assists, and Irving added four rebounds and seven assists.
-Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 21 points on 6-8 shooting from 3-point range. Hardaway Jr. finished the first half with 18 points, helped by his 5-6 shooting clip from 3-point range. The first half was his highest-scoring first half of the season and tied his career-best for the most 3FG in the first half.
-Christian Wood came off the bench for 17 points on 5-7 shooting to go with three rebounds. Wood has scored 10+ points in nine straight games, averaging 15.3 points per game in that span.
The Phoenix Suns made a splash move and a move that could put them in a position to win an NBA title.
On Thursday, they acquired forwards Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four future first-round picks, and a pick swap.
Durant, 34, had requested a trade in the offseason but decided to stay with the Nets. However, Kyrie Irving requested a trade last week and was sent to the Dallas Mavericks, and ultimately, Brooklyn decided to move Durant.
Suns owner Mat Ishbia is excited to bring Durant and Warren to Phoenix.
“Today is a transformative day for this organization,” said Ishbia via a press release. “We are thrilled to welcome Kevin and T.J. to the Valley as we build a championship culture both on and off the court,” Ishbia added. “Not only is Kevin one of the greatest and most accomplished players in the history of the sport, but his character also embodies the world-class commitment to excellence we are instilling across every facet of this organization.”
Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager James Jones is also excited about the possibilities.
“We are elated to welcome Kevin and T.J. to the Valley,” Jones said. “Both players are dynamic scorers and fierce competitors who compete with intensity night in and night out. We’re excited to see the added value they will contribute to our team.”
Durant has been out since January 8 with a sprained meniscus and reportedly could return sometime after the All-Star break.
The Phoenix Suns are all in, and that has to be exciting for anybody associated with the team. Durant has three years left on his contract, Devin Booker signed a four-year, supermax contract extension last offseason; Deandre Ayton got a four-deal last summer, and Chris Paul has two more seasons left on his contract after this one, so again, this team is locked and loaded to go after a title for the next few seasons.
With what they added in Durant, anything short of an NBA title in the next couple of seasons would be a huge disappointment in Phoenix.
The Cavs(26-15) continued their five-game road trip in Phoenix against the Suns on Sunday night. After resting in the team’s loss to the Nuggets on Friday night, Cleveland got back their leading scorer Donovan Mitchell.
Fortunately for the Cavs, the Suns(20-21) were without their starting backcourt of Chris Paul(hip) and Devin Booker(groin), and ultimately, Cleveland led by as many as 22 points and defeated Phoenix 112-98 at Footprint Center.
With the win, the Cavs, who beat the Suns 90-88 last week at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, swept the season-series.
Cleveland has won four out of their last five, while the Suns have lost six straight.
Here’s the Great, Not So Great, and the Bottom Line of the Cavs’ win over the Suns.
Great:
Starting Backcourt: Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland had 22 points apiece. Garland added seven assists. Mitchell and Garland combined for 44 points, and they were reunited, and it felt so good.
Jarrett Allen had his team-leading 15th double-double on Sunday with 13 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, and a season-high five assists.
Shooting: Cleveland shot 57% from the field against the Suns. Cleveland made 11 threes on Sunday night, but most of their damage came in the paint, as the Cavs had 52 points in the paint.
According to Cavs Notes, this is their highest field goal percentage in any road game since 2015.
Fourth Quarter: The Cavs took an 80-79 lead into the fourth, and they took over from there. Cleveland went on a 23-4 run to take a 103-83 lead with just under four minutes to go. The Cavs shot 66% from the field in the fourth, outscored the Suns 32-19 in the quarter, and a close game became a rout!
Not So Great:
After that fourth quarter for the Cavs, there are no complaints. Turnovers(14) were a little high, but hey, they won.
Bottom Line:
In the NBA, when you have an opportunity to defeat a team that is down, you have to get the job done, and that’s what the Cavs did on Sunday night. They took advantage of a depleted Suns team.
The Cavs have reached the halfway point of their schedule, and after 41 games, here are a few things we know about this team:
-Donovan Mitchell is the real deal
-The Cavs are an outstanding home team(18-4)
-The Cavs are a mediocre road team(8-11)
-Cleveland is a great defensive team(the number one-rated defensive team in NBA)
-They are legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference and could make a deep playoff run
What’s Next:
Cleveland heads to Utah to battle the Jazz on Tuesday night as Mitchell faces off against his former team.
Best of the Rest:
Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro had 14 points apiece, and Caris LeVert had 13 points off the bench. Cleveland had six players in double figures, including all five starters.
For the Suns, Duane Washington Jr. led the Suns with 25 points off the bench, and Deandre Ayton had a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
On Wednesday night, the Cavs(25-14) defeated the Suns(20-19) 90-88 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Cleveland has won three straight, while Phoenix has lost four straight and seven of their last eight.
Here’s the Great, Not So Great, and the Bottom Line of the Cavs’ win over the Suns
Great:
Caris LeVert got the start for the injured Darius Garland and performed. LeVert scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth, and in the fourth, he was 4/4 from the field, including 3/3 from deep. The Cavs don’t win without the contributions of LeVert.
Donovan Mitchell did not shoot it well(6/20 from the field, including 3/12 from downtown). However, during money time, he was big. Mitchell made a three to put the Cavs up 88-85 with 40 seconds left, and with the game tied at 88, he assisted on an Evan Mobley jumper with four seconds to go! Mitchell didn’t score 71, but he still got the job done.
Raul Neto gave the Cavs a big boost off the bench. Neto scored eight of his season-high 14 points in the third and gave the Cavs life. Cleveland doesn’t win without Neto.
Not So Great:
Shooting: Cleveland could not make shots against the Suns; they finished the game shooting 39% from the field, including 30% from deep, but fortunately, Phoenix wasn’t much better as they shot 40% from the field.
First Half: Cleveland had a bad first half, scoring only 33 points, and they shot 29% from the floor, including 16% from three. Not good, but again, they won.
Bottom Line:
This was a workmanlike performance. Nothing pretty about this game, but the Cavs won. It’s really that simple. These are the wins that a good team gets. Not at your best, but you pass the test, and now the Cavs get some rest until Friday when they head to Denver to face the Nuggets as they start a five-game west coast road trip.
After this trip, we’ll learn a lot about the Cavs, who struggle on the road.
What’s Next:
Cleveland heads to Denver to face the Nuggets on Friday night.
Best of the Rest:
Chris Paul led the Suns with 25 points and eight assists; Deandre Ayton had a double-double with 15 points and 18 rebounds. All five starters for the Suns scored in double figures.
Cedi Osman had 12 points off the Cavs’ bench.
Darius Garland(thumb) missed his second straight game, and Phoenix was without their leading scorer Devin Booker(groin).
The Phoenix Suns will be without their leading scorer for at least a month.
On Wednesday, the Suns announced that Devin Booker had sustained a left groin strain. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks, according to the team.
Booker had recently missed six games due to hamstring and groin injuries and played only four minutes against the Nuggets on Christmas Day before being forced to leave.
The 26-year-old guard is averaging a career-high 27.1 points per contest in 29 games this season. Without Booker, reserve guard Landry Shamet will probably be the starter.
Phoenix(20-15) continues their six-game road trip in Washington against the Wizards on Wednesday night.
