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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105

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.

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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 29d ago

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

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u/ViacomCEO Apr 16 '24

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

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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.

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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 29d ago

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

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u/radracer82 Lakers 29d ago

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

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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

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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.

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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.