According to multiple reports, Team USA’s Olympic roster is starting to take shape but LeBron James may not be a part of the team.
Like Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Paul, James will reportedly will opt for rest and withdraw his name from consideration from the USA Basketball player pool.
From The Vertical’s Chris Mannix:
In the aftermath of a grueling NBA Finals, LeBron James is leaning toward not competing at the Olympics in Rio this summer, league sources told The Vertical.
While James has not informed USA Basketball of his decision, team officials are operating with the expectation that it is unlikely James will be part of the team.
James has already played in three Olympics and won two Gold medals, and after winning the title for Cleveland, skipping out on Rio seems perfectly reasonable. Also, James just completed yet another lengthy NBA season and can use the summer to recuperate and recover, instead of adding extra miles on his legs by playing in the Olympics.
Despite James and other superstars like Curry not participating in this summer’s Olympics, Team USA will still have plenty of talent. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and Paul George are “locks” to be on the team:
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant remains intent on playing in this summer’s Olympics after his looming free agency, unmoved by the recent withdrawals of a few high-profile names, according to league sources….
Sources say Indiana’s Paul George and Golden State’s Klay Thompson are also considered locks alongside Durant for the 12-man Olympic roster that will be revealed in coming days, joining Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins, whose inclusion was first reported by The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears earlier this month….
Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, sources say, is regarded as a near certainty to claim a spot on the roster as long as he remains available — as expected — following the Cavaliers’ long playoff run.
The Undefeated’s Marc Spears also reports that Warriors All-Star Draymond Green has already accepted an invitation to join Team USA, which means that there are still six or seven roster spots left. Others who will likely make the final cut are Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler and perhaps Damian Lillard and Andre Drummond. But we won’t know for sure until Team USA announces their official roster for their 2016 Olympic team at the end of June.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
