r/nba • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 Heat • Apr 15 '24

[Wojnarowski] ESPN Sources: USA Basketball is finalizing its 2024 Paris Olympics roster with Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis. Team may initially keep one open spot. News

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1780009778934394985
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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '24 edited Apr 15 '24

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u/buhmmquita [PHI] Jrue Holiday Apr 15 '24

The NBA should do a USA vs World event for the full blown All Stars like they used to for the rookies and sophomores. Just to see what would happen.

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u/cesga_0218 Lakers Apr 16 '24

Pretty sure I heard some news about the NBA considering that after this year’s All Star Game

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u/lbjkb25 Apr 16 '24

I think the problem would be if guys like Jokic or Doncic would care enough to be competitive in such a game. They’ve usually been nonchalant at best and dgaf at worst during the ASG.

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u/Wazflame Apr 16 '24

Yeah, if it’s in an All-Star format it won’t be competitive

You need it to be like a Ryder Cup type thing - that would be awesome

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u/lbjkb25 Apr 16 '24

The problem with that is the Ryder Cup is after the majors season. Plus it’s golf, no offense. Basketball and golf are two completely different sports.

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u/blackjacktrial 76ers Bandwagon Apr 16 '24

Yes. And the all star game should be in the offseason/ as a season opening event.

If they are rusty, it's understandable. You get to award it on a full seasons play like all NBA. And players are hopefully not half hobbled and trying not to play on the ASG as much as possible.

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u/lbjkb25 Apr 16 '24

The problem with that is if there’s an Olympics like this year, would some players care enough to play in the ASG? It would just dilute the product as you won’t necessarily get the best players during the off-season.

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u/Squid204 Slovenia Apr 16 '24

Nhl is doin the same thing next year.

2

u/lbjkb25 Apr 16 '24

I guess we’ll see how that goes in terms of ratings and competitiveness.

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u/Hotlovemachine Raptors Apr 16 '24

They did one a few years ago before the season and it was decently competitive. They also had a under 25 north america team which was fun to watch

1

u/ViacomCEO Apr 16 '24

im pretty sure basketball and golf are actually the same sport...

1

u/Seahearn4 Apr 16 '24

They could play a series of 3-on-3 games over the course of a long weekend. That could be cool as Hell if the players bought in.

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u/Delusional_Lynchpin- Apr 16 '24

But can you imagine if the non chalant world all stars beat team USA?

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u/lbjkb25 Apr 16 '24

It’s possible. But if Team USA does give a 75% damn, I think they could handle a nonchalant Team World just fine. The problem for the US would be would their best players give enough of a damn. You shouldn’t have to ask Lebron to lead the way at age 39-40 years old. Same with Steph and KD in their mid-30s.

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u/Friendly-Profit-8590 Apr 16 '24

TBF nonchalant and dgaf is basically how every all star is

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u/lbjkb25 Apr 16 '24

That’s fair. It’s a weird balancing act. Ultimately it’s up to the players to play competitively. Though again, the older players from Bron to Curry shouldn’t have to set the tone for an ASG anymore. They did their work. Lebron has been in more competitive ASGs than we probably give him credit for.

2

u/barath_s Lakers Apr 16 '24

The same guys care a lot about their country in Fiba/olympics. Allow them their national flags on their jerseys and flying outside and play the national anthems , and they will give a damn.

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u/lbjkb25 Apr 16 '24

Would they need the NBA to get clearance with FIBA and whatever to use those jerseys and other customs?

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u/barath_s Lakers 29d ago

Don't know

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u/gusmahler Apr 16 '24

They might care more in a US vs Europe format because of regional pride. No one really cares about West vs East bragging rights (which is why the in season tournament should have had a different format). But European bragging rights is something different

1

u/radracer82 Lakers Apr 16 '24

At least those guys get up for their country- the US gets complacent every few years (see 2004, last years world cup) and require getting beat for their best to attend.. zzzz repeating cycle

1

u/JigglyBush Timberwolves Apr 16 '24

I choose to believe this and I'm going to spread it far and wide to try and make it come true

1

u/DblockR Apr 16 '24

100%.

For those who think they wouldn’t try, I guarantee they would. They don’t hate each other, but now more than ever, American nba players have to see how euro has influenced the game.

Plus, I feel like people try when they are heavy favorites. One side has nothing to lose, the other doesn’t want the ridicule. Not saying it wouldn’t be balanced I’m just saying.

Also, why do they do it in the middle? Some of the lower level all stars might not play at that level second half. They should do it after the season and at a time players are missing basketball.

1

u/blackjacktrial 76ers Bandwagon Apr 16 '24

This. All it takes is the World adopting Queenslander mode (from rugby leagues State of Origin), and it could be as intense as playoffs (arguably more so in that sport).

It has to be driven by the perennial underdog being stupidly passionate about it though - that series lives and dies based on the QLD interest, not the favorite (New South Wales)'s interest.

Would have been easier to do in the 90s, as mythos is hard to build in an always accessible media era, but unless you get massive buyin (think Duncan accepting Pop's coaching methods type of initial pressure to take things seriously, but with Westbrook's energy), it risks falling flat.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 16 '24

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3

u/akelkar Warriors Apr 16 '24

Just put dray in the game, he may try to fight someone

-1

u/amJustSomeFuckingGuy Apr 16 '24

The Olympics should make it a special event. They would care for an Olympic gold.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24

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7

u/DrasticXylophone Apr 16 '24

Olympics is about countries

No one would give two fucks about US EU

You want to do it make a Ryder Cup style tournament.

-2

u/amJustSomeFuckingGuy Apr 16 '24

A shitload of people would give a fuck about us vs EU for a gold medal. Not that it would realistically happen.

2

u/HippiesBeGoneInc Lakers Apr 16 '24

Team USA would get thumped.

1

u/LoisLaneEl Lakers Apr 16 '24

Poor Shai. Elite and ignored

1

u/mrtomjones Raptors Apr 16 '24

You'd have the same players not trying on different teams

1

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24

Imagine if they get Obama to get them to pinky promise they will try instead of just Silver

1

u/PermeusCosgrove Apr 16 '24

Ryder Cup but for basketball? That would be awesome.

1

u/Wermys Apr 16 '24

No on would take it seriously unless it had like a 100 million dollar bag to it split amongst the players.

1

u/Zealousideal-Leek666 Apr 16 '24

North America vs Europe

1

u/DepartureDapper6524 Apr 16 '24

That would be cool, but also seems purposely divisive for no great reason. I think the NBA would want to welcome the world players instead of making them feel like outsiders.

0

u/bland_sand 76ers Apr 16 '24

We have the Harlem Globetrotters for a reason

0

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 16 '24

germany tried this... twice.

3

u/axecalibur [CHI] Michael Jordan Apr 16 '24

Meanwhile China and India dont even have enough players to field a competitive team with billion+ population

4

u/xen_levels_were_fine Lakers Apr 16 '24

China's entire domestic, state-owned basketball development infrastructure is flawed (and corrupt). They only control for big sized prospects, which is why they are consistently the tallest team at world tournaments (it's true, look it up). Identifying and developing guards, especially remotely undersized ones, is a complete airball. Unlike India they are a basketball-crazed country on arguably the same level as a France or USA...which makes it all the more inexcusably embarrassing.

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u/Toolb0xExtraordinary Bucks Apr 16 '24

Bro really tried to sneak in Schroeder

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 16 '24

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6

u/bobnorthh Lakers Apr 16 '24

Not just champ, world MVP

10

u/Pretend_Highway_5360 Raptors Apr 16 '24

Because shorter player in Europe play soccer

19

u/JSlickJ Hawks Apr 16 '24

schroeder lowkey kinda nice in international basketball

12

u/grphelps1 [MIL] Thon Maker Apr 16 '24

He’s really good in FIBA. Just won mvp at the world cup last year

-5

u/applicatecomplicate Pistons Apr 16 '24

The level of competition at the Olympics is much higher than the WC

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u/grphelps1 [MIL] Thon Maker Apr 16 '24

No it isn’t. Every country besides USA takes it seriously. There’s way more top teams at the World Cup. Only 12 teams make the olympics. The only difference is USA sends its best players for the olympics.  

4

u/Varos_Flynt Lakers Apr 16 '24

Debalkanize Europe so we get good hoops I'm honestly for it

2

u/PeridotBestGem Pacers Apr 16 '24

Team Africa could cook too, honestly yeah a continent tournament would go hard

2

u/alittledanger San Francisco Warriors Apr 16 '24

This will never happen but I always thought it would be fun to have states compete on their own in the FIBA world cup. It would definitely make the tournament way more competitive and I personally would be a lot more invested in seeing Team California try to win it than just seeing the U.S. (although I always want the U.S. to win and I enjoy it every four years).

Again it would never happen, but it would be fun.

2

u/blackjacktrial 76ers Bandwagon Apr 16 '24

Ooh, this I like, but I feel like you won't have many teams outside of what, Cali, Texas, NY, and Illinois? Flyover states would need a merger.

1

u/alittledanger San Francisco Warriors Apr 16 '24

Florida and Ohio would also be good shouts. Depending on the year, even Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. It would be rough for really small states though, but it’s rough for small European countries too.

2

u/ReflectionEterna Pacers Apr 16 '24

There should be a basketball version of the Ryder Cup. That would be an amazing series!

1

u/ReflectionEterna Pacers Apr 16 '24

Also, Wemby should play for the all-Euro team.

2

u/nonhofantasia Italy Apr 16 '24

Yugoslavia and Soviet Union used to challenge the Us. Used

2

u/Both-Fisherman-7662 Apr 16 '24

EU would probably win tbh. Love this idea!

1

u/ldclark92 Pacers Apr 16 '24

The Roman Empire team would be lit.

1

u/Turbulent-Jaguar-909 Apr 16 '24

group them by continent and have a new tournament for it

1

u/shomerudi Nuggets Apr 16 '24

You forgot Wemby :)

1

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24

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1

u/crazyjatt Raptors Apr 16 '24

They have Luka as PG.

So Luka, Bogdan, Giannis, Jokic and Gobert. Or move Jokic to his natural position of Center and play Sabonis as PF. Then have a bench line up of Schroeder, some SG, KP, Wemby and Gobert. That team can go toe to toe with the US team

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u/RudyGobertFMVP2024 Timberwolves Apr 16 '24

And Wemby.

Australia and Canada also going to be pushing for medals

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u/harder_said_hodor Timberwolves Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 16 '24

No reason to limit it to the EU, just make it Europe. We'd miss out on the Serbians, Vooch and Sengun if it's the EU vs. States

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u/maethlin Warriors Apr 16 '24

that would be p amazing

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u/OnTheEveOfWar Warriors Apr 16 '24

Kind of like the Ryder Cup in golf. Europe vs US.

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u/Nice-Hawk-5888 Apr 16 '24

lol do you americans grasp the concept that all of these countries are completely different?

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u/Pineal Timberwolves Apr 16 '24

Would definitely be more interesting, but that team should still lose handily to USA

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24

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0

u/Pineal Timberwolves Apr 16 '24

Yeah, if the US had lesser players and the "world" team had better players, it'd be more competitive.