Written by Abner Jackson III

The 2024 United States Men’s Olympic Basketball Team will need a good overall roster to bring back the gold for us. I put together a 12-man roster that would have a good chance of winning a gold medal for the US.  The 2023 Team USA team didn’t win a medal at all in the FIBA World Cup.  They didn’t have enough size and rebounding was an issue for them.

Steph Curry is the first guard I would select, have to pick the best shooter in NBA history.  Team USA always need a couple of good shooters on the team and this would be Curry first time playing in the Olympics.  Devin Booker is the second guard I would select, a great scorer and good shooter.  This would be Booker’s second time playing in the Olympics and his killer instinct would be needed.

Damian Lillard is the third guard I’m selecting, scorer, shooter and comes through in the clutch.  Lillard can hit a shot anywhere on the court, similar to Curry.  He has hit quite a few game winning shots in the NBA, him and Curry together would be lethal from downtown.  My last guard selection would be Jrue Holiday, he can play point and shooting guard for Team USA.  Holiday has five all-defensive teams selections and two all-star appearances in his NBA career, his defensive and all-around game would be needed.

Kevin Durant would be the first forward I select, one of the best scorers in NBA history. He can play small and power forward, shoot, rebound and is a good defender.  Jayson Tatum would be the second forward I select, one of the top 5-10 players in the league and a good all-around player.  Jimmy Butler is the third forward I’m selecting, Playoff Jimmy and his will to win would be needed.  Butler is a good all-around player, one of the best defenders in the league and can play shooting guard if the coach decided to go with a bigger lineup.

Evan Mobley would be my fourth forward selection, his height, shot blocking and defensive would be needed.  Mobley was recently selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team and ranked first in the NBA in defensive win shares.  My last forward selection is LeBron James, he said he would play again for Team USA.  He wants to play at this age, his leadership, passing, scoring, rebounding and Olympic experience would be needed.

My first center would be Bam Adebayo, he was recently named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.  One of the top 3-5 centers in the league, that can score and not a bad playmaker for a big man.  Myles Turner would the second center I would select, defense and shooting.  Turner is one of the best shot blockers in the league and would give Team USA a center that can make threes. 

My last selection would be Anthony Davis, he can play center and power forward.  This was a hard decision with his availability and injury history.  When healthy he can score, rebound, block shots, plays defense and can shoot for a big man.  If Joel Embiid decided to play for Team USA, I would replace Davis with him.  Both players have an injury history, Embiid is a true center and the last few years have played more games than Davis.

The rest of the world has caught up with the USA in basketball and seems like winning a gold medal isn’t guaranteed for the United States.  My starting would be Curry, Holiday, James, Durant and Turner.  Another lineup I would play at some point every game would be, LeBron at the point, Butler at the two, Durant at the three, Davis at the four and Bam playing center.  That’s a scary defensive lineup with length, speed and should intimidate some players driving to the basket.  2024 Team USA Basketball, the 12 players selected, no hero ball, rebound, always play defense, take good shots and bring us another gold medal.