LeBron James looks to recruit Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, NBA All-Stars for Team USA in 2024 Olympics
History shows that players listen and oblige when LeBron James asks them to join him on a team.
That could be shaping up again as James reached out to several All-Stars including the Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant and Devin Booker to play on Team USA in the 2024 Olympics, per The Athletic on Monday.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer spoke to his Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis, Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, and Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum about playing in Paris.
Booker, Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard, Sacramento Kings' DeAaron Fox, and Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving are reportedly interested in committing to represent the nation next year.
Team USA didn't win a medal in the FIBA World Cup, which ended on Sunday. That's the second consecutive time Team USA failed to be on a podium in the event.
Led by Anthony Edwards as well as former Suns and current Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges, Team USA finished in fourth place after it fell to Canada in overtime for the bronze medal on Sunday. Team USA's other losses were to Germany in the semifinals on Friday, then Germany advanced and beat Serbia for its first title on Sunday. Team USA also lost to Lithuania in the second round on Sept. 3.
Team USA struggled in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, ending in seventh place.
The news of James' call to arms seems like a redemption push for Team USA. However, it's a coincidence as James' recruitment began before this year's World Cup, and Team USA has won the gold in the past four Olympiads since 2008.
"Part of the deal with USAB is you pass the baton on to the next coaching staff, the next group of players,” USA Basketball coach Steve Kerr said about the team's roster turnover, following its loss to Germany.
“We’re unique in that we have a deep talent pool and a lot of very worthy players and I think those players and coaches all deserve to have the honor of wearing this USA jersey.”
USA Basketball managing director, former Sun and Hall of Famer Grant Hill is aware of James' efforts to bring many of these past Olympians together as a "last dance," but declined to comment about it.
Durant, who turns 35 this month, is a three-time Olympian who won the gold with 39-year-old James in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. Davis played with James and Durant in 2012 as well. Curry will be 36 next summer, hasn't played in the Olympics before, but played for Team USA and won the gold in the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cups. Tatum was Curry's teammate in 2014.
Booker played with Durant, Tatum, Lillard, and Green in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, two months after the Suns' finals run and loss to Milwaukee.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: LeBron James looks to recruit Kevin Durant, Devin Booker for 2024 Olympics
