Disappointing FIBA World Cup ends for Team USA

It was a good news, bad news week for Team USA.

The bad news happened on the court as the Americans lost to eventual champion Germany in the semifinals, and then lost again to their neighbors from the north as Canada claimed the bronze medal in the Philippines.

All told, the U.S. lost three times during the FIBA World Cup as they also fell to Lithuania during group play. Results hardly becoming of any so-called ‘Dream Team’ the Americans sent across the Pacific.

On the plus side, their 4th place finish in Manila was three spots better than they fared in 2019 when they could only muster a 7th place showing in China. They also secured a spot in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

Even better, it appears help is on the way to reclaim those gold medals that used to be a formality.

LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a three-time Olympian, has strongly hinted he’s ready for one more Olympic Games.

Oh, and he’s bringing some friends with him.

James said he’s spoken to Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum and Draymond Green, and they’ll all give at least a verbal commitment to don the red, white and blue in Paris.

A lineup featuring those players would be a stark contrast to the one in Manila, where only three players were a current NBA All-Star and nobody had any prior national team experience.

Curry, 36, has never played in the Olympics, though he is a two-time World Cup gold medalist. James will be 39 in Paris and Durant 35. All three said they are eager for one final go. The time is now. LA28 isn’t an option.

Despite their struggles in the World Cup, Team USA has won the last four Olympic golds. A roster of Curry, James, Durant, Green and Davis, amongst others, would be an overwhelming favorite to make it five straight.

The Paris 2024 Games begin July 26, 2024 and Team USA will obviously need a full training camp and exhibition matches ahead of the real thing. No doubt James and his would-be future teammates also fancy a deep NBA playoff run well into May and June, giving them virtually no time off between the end of the NBA postseason and the beginning of the Games. That could be a big ask for players closer to retirement than their peak. James, Davis, Durant and Curry have all missed many NBA games over the past few seasons due to various injuries.