After months of waiting about the list of men’s basketball team players to represent the U.S. in the Tokyo Olympics.
The USA basketball has officially confirmed its 12 man roster for the Olympics.
In addition, it confirmed that the Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant will lead the 12 men basketball team.
Meanwhile, Gregg Popovich appointed as the team’s head coach with assistant coaches and Jerry Colangelo as managing director.
Like this, the USA basketball team included experienced players and coaches to bring the fourth straight Olympic gold medal.
The USA basketball team will train together before heading to Tokyo, where the Olympic tournament begins.
USA Basketball Board of Directors approved the U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team.
However, the team still awaits the approval of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
12 men roster for the Olympics.
According to USA Basketball, Bam Adebayo, Khris Middleton, Kevin Love, Kevin Durant, Jerami Grant, and Draymond Green take forward position.
While Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Zach LaVine, Jrue Holiday, and Jayson Tatum take backcourt.
For The Stars & Stripes.
🇺🇸 #USABMNT x @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/om4sRaHAZG
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 28, 2021
The Nets star Kevin Durant will lead the team in the Olympics.
If this roster receives approval then they become the third-oldest U.S. men’s team in Olympic history for the Tokyo Games.
The average age of the team is 28.2 with Love being the oldest, who is 32 years.
And Tatum being the youngest, is 22 years.
This ranks just behind the 1996 Atlanta Olympics squad (29.4) and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics Team (29.0).
On the other hand, talking about their experience, Durant is in the Olympics for the third time.
This makes him the fourth player to have that many appearances for the Olympics.
Durant won a gold medal with the USA basketball squads in 2012 and 2016. Kevin Love was also part of the winning squad in 2012.
While Green was part of the winning squad in 2016.
On the other hand, the other nine players on the U.S. roster will be appearing in the Olympics for the first time.
However, Middleton and Tatum were members of the 2019 USA World Cup Team.
“I’m happy for the selected players and looking forward to having the opportunity to work with this wonderful group when practice gets underway on July 6 in Las Vegas,” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said. “I’m excited to represent the United States in our quest to earn a gold medal in Tokyo.”
Coaches for the Olympics basketball team.
Talking about the coaches, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will lead the Olympics basketball team as their head coach.
Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, Villanova University’s coach Jay Wright, and Lloyd Pierce join him as assistant coaches.
Officially official: Draymond Green and Steve Kerr will rep the Dubs this summer with @usabasketball in Tokyo 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/tZqdeZhCFH
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 28, 2021
Likewise, Jerry Colangelo is the team’s managing director once again.
He is serving in that role for the final time before Grant Hill assumes the job after this Olympics are complete.
“We are excited about the 12 players who have been selected to represent the United States in the Tokyo Olympics,” said Colangelo, who has served as managing director of the USA Men’s National Team since 2005.
“This was an unusually challenging selection process for many reasons, including the year postponement of the Olympics and the issues related to the timing of the NBA regular season and playoffs.”
Praises for the 12 men roster.
“Our roster features players who are experienced in the international game,” Colangelo said.
” And this team has outstanding athleticism, versatility, and balance,” he added. “We also believe we have excellent leadership which is a necessity to develop the needed chemistry.”
“We still have a lot of challenges in front of us, but I believe these players will become a team that all Americans will be proud of.”
“USA Basketball selects players to represent our country in international competition with the skills, character, experience, and desire to win,” said retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the USA Basketball Board of Directors. “We build teams that are versatile and resilient in the short, intense competitions we face. We’re fortunate that this group of elite athletes has volunteered to represent us in Tokyo this summer.”
To win a gold medal in the Olympic championship in 2021, a new rule is set up.
According to the rule, a team has to play six games – three in the group phase and three in the Final Phase (quarterfinals, semifinals, gold medal game), instead of eight games as in past Olympics.
To win their fourth consecutive win, the Olympics basketball team will begin their training camp in Las Vegas.
They will train there from July 6-18 before heading to Tokyo, where the Olympic tournament will begin on July 25.
