Paris Olympics: Team USA set to unleash LeBron James, Steph Curry and Joel Embiid

LeBron James, Stephen Curry and reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid were named among a 41-strong player pool for the USA’s 2024 Olympics basketball roster on Tuesday.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 21: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a Lakers score during a 134-110 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on January 21, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The USA Dream Team is back – and it spells danger for Australia’s gold medal dreams at this year’s Paris Olympics.

The Boomers’ aspirations of winning gold have been dealt a reality check, with Team USA announcing its best squad in years.

LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid headline a 41-player pool from which the final 12-man team will be chosen.

The provisional player pool contains 28 players who have represented the USA at an Olympics or FIBA World Cup, with 23 gold medals between them.

James, 39, is desperate for a swan song Olympic campaign in Paris, as he edges closer to hanging up the sneakers following a Hall of Fame career.

LeBron James wants to add another Olympic gold to his trophy cabinet.

The Los Angeles Lakers star has played at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics, winning two gold and a bronze, and can become the oldest US player to feature at the Games if he appears in Paris.

It means James would surpass Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird, who played for the USA Dream Team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, aged 35.

The Lakers superstar is chasing a third gold medal in what will be his first appearance at an Olympics since the 2012 London Games.

Four-time NBA champion Steph Curry is yet to play at an Olympics, but his Golden State coach Steve Kerr the USA coach, he is in the mix for Paris.

Curry, who many rate as the greatest shooter of all-time, would make the Americans almost impossible to beat.

Australia play Team USA in an Olympic warm-up game in Abu Dhabi on July 14. The bronze-medal winning Boomers from the Tokyo Games are still aiming high heading into Paris, despite a disappointing tenth-placed finish at last year’s World Cup in Japan.

Stephen Curry is in the mix to play at his first Olympics for Team USA. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

USA Basketball men’s national team managing director Grant Hill is feeling confident about America’s tilt for a fifth straight Olympic gold medal in Paris.

“The United States boasts unbelievable basketball talent and I am thrilled that many of the game’s superstars have expressed interest in representing our country at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games,” Hill said.

“It is a privilege to select the team that will help us toward the goal of once again standing atop the Olympic podium.

“This challenging process will unfold over the next several months as we eagerly anticipate the start of national team activity.”

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is set to play for the United States for the first time after pledging his allegiance to the squad last October.

The Cameroon-born superstar, who dropped 70 points for the 76ers recently, was eligible to play for the country of his birth, France and the United States, but opted for a US squad which will enter the Olympics as overwhelming gold medal favourites.

Head coach Kerr will be joined by Gonzaga University’s Mark Few, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Tyronn Lue and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acting as assistants.

USA Basketball also announced plans for pre-Olympic Games in Las Vegas and London.

The US will play Canada in Las Vegas on July 10, before exhibition games against South Sudan on July 20 and Germany on July 22 at London’s O2 Arena.

TEAM USA 41-MAN SQUAD FOR PARIS OLYMPICS:

Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)

Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)

Desmond Bane (Memphis Grizzlies)

Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors)

Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)

Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets)

Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)

Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)

Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)

Alex Caruso (Chicago Bulls)

Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)

Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)

Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)

De’Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings)

Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)

Aaron Gordon (Denver Nuggets)

Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)

James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers)

Josh Hart (New York Knicks)

Tyler Herro (Miami Heat)

Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)

Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans)

Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks)

Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)

LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

Cam Johnson (Brooklyn Nets)

Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz)

Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)

Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks)

Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Chris Paul (Golden State Warriors)

Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks)

Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers)

Duncan Robinson (Miami Heat)

Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)

Derrick White (Boston Celtics)

Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)

Originally published as Paris Olympics: Team USA set to unleash LeBron James, Steph Curry and Joel Embiid