USA Basketball’s men’s player pool for the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer has been announced.
The usual big names like LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are on the list.
Toronto Raptors budding star Scottie Barnes joins them as well:
USA Basketball player pool of 41 finalists that will be used to select the 12-player roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris: pic.twitter.com/Bs1yqnQDQD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 23, 2024
The rest of the pool: Jarrett Allen, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Alex Caruso, Anthony Edwards, De’Aaron Fox, Aaron Gordon, Tyrese Haliburton, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Ingram, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson, Derrick White and Trae Young.
This is a huge honor and opportunity for Barnes. He is among 41 players being considered to represent Team USA at the Olympics this summer.
Barnes being around superstars like Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant and LeBron James will be big for his development.
Barnes is currently in the mists of a solid third season with the Raptors.
He is averaging 20.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
When the Raptors traded both O.G. Anunboy and Pascal Siakam over the last couple of weeks, they signalled that this is Barnes’ team now.
The Raptors have entered a new era and they are in their developmental phase centered around Barnes.
While there will be ups and downs, it’s important for Barnes to continue to learn and grow as a player.
He is the face of the Raptors franchise so being in this opportunity with USA Basketball will only help him adjust to that new role.
When does 2024 olympic basketball begin?
Olympic basketball at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will begin on July 27 and will run until Aug. 11.
Canada will face the USA in a pre-Olympics tuneup game on July 10 in Las Vegas.
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