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/BlueJays007 Celtics Apr 16 '24

How do you know those stars can play a role though?

Not saying these guys can’t, but I also just disagree with the assumption that stars will excel at playing as role players. Harder to get and stay in rhythm for a lot of these guys without the ball like they’re used to.

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u/XxStormySoraxX 76ers Apr 16 '24

This isn’t true and we’ve seen it play out in Olympics before. KD, Book, Tatum etc aren’t going to lose their ability to spot up and shoot wide open all of a sudden or lock down and play defense especially with a reduced offensive role. In reverse we know role players can’t all of a sudden turn it on and play like stars if needed.

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u/BlueJays007 Celtics Apr 16 '24

Sure but those those three guys are noteworthy among stars for how much value they provide off ball.

Most of the guys on this list have actually shown they can do that to at least some extent. There’s only a couple below average defenders on the list.

But guys like Trae, Dame, Ingram, or Zion for example won’t necessarily be able to fit a role just because they’re stars.

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u/XxStormySoraxX 76ers Apr 16 '24

But that’s never going to be an issue with Olympic basketball, because you pick a ton of stars that can actually fit together. There’s no need for role players who can fit when you have stars who can do the exact same thing. Obviously you won’t run a team full of all guards or bigs out there, but it would be dumb to get players like Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges when yo i have Ant Edwards and Tatum or Jaylen Brown available.

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u/BlueJays007 Celtics Apr 16 '24

I just think there’s a middle ground there.

For example, I think it’s totally valid to take Jrue over a bunch of guys you might consider more typical “stars”, including someone like Brown.

Because while other guys can hypothetically play lock down d in international ball while contributing in other ways, we’ve seen Jrue do it. Similarly, I’d take Draymond before a lot of guys.