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LeBron James included among US Olympic basketball team finalists

LeBron James could be set for a first Olympic Games appearance since London 2012 as he's been nam...



LeBron James included among US...
Other Sports

LeBron James included among US Olympic basketball team finalists

LeBron James could be set for a first Olympic Games appearance since London 2012 as he's been named in the 44-man list of finalists for the US basketball team. 

The LA Lakers forward skipped the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, claiming at the time that a tough season with the Cleveland Cavs had left him tired, adding, "I could use the rest".

Speaking in December, James said of his participation at Tokyo 2020, "It's a possibility".

James - along with the late Kobe Bryant - won gold at London 2012, and was fourth on the list of assists in the tournament.

Steph Curry's also been included in the 44-man panel, having been another who pulled out of Rio 2016 with the Golden State man citing "several factors -- including recent ankle and knee injuries."

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will oversee the 2020 edition of the 'Dream Team', and there will be no tryouts for the final squad of 12.

Popovich and USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo have already discussed the selection with players, and if not directly then with agents or clubs. Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson and Andre Drummond have already explicitly said they want to be involved this summer.

Nine players, including Thompson and Houston's James Harden are among nine players still in contention from the gold medal-winning side of 2016.

Popovich and co will hope for a better showing than that of the 2019 Basketball World Cup where a quarter-final defeat to France led to a 7th place finish for the US.

US Basketball Olympic Games finalists: 

Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs)
Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings)
Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
Malcolm Brogdon (Indiana Pacers)
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)
Mike Conley (Utah Jazz)
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
DeMar DeRozan (San Antonio Spurs)
Andre Drummond (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)
Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)
Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors)
James Harden (Houston Rockets)
Montrezl Harrell (Los Angeles Clippers)
Joe Harris (Brooklyn Nets)
Tobias Harris (Philadelphia 76ers)
Gordon Hayward (Boston Celtics)
Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers)
Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans)
Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers)
Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)
Damian Lillard (Portland Blazers)
Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks)
Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors)
JaVale McGee (Los Angeles Lakers)
Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)
Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)
Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers)
Chris Paul (Oklahoma Thunder)
Mason Plumlee (Denver Nuggets)
Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics)
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)
Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)
Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics)
Russell Westbrook (Houston Rockets)
Derrick White (San Antonio Spurs)

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Read more about

Basketball Dream Team Golden State Warriors Gregg Popovich James Harden Kobe Bryant LA LAkers LeBron James London 2012 Olympic Games Rio 2016 Steph Curry Tokyo 2020 US USA US Basketball