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Bam Adebayo makes reported Team USA roster for 2024 Paris Olympics

Bam Adebayo
Bam Adebayo started for Team USA in the 2021 Olympics. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nearly three months after making Team USA’s initial player pool ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Bam Adebayo is one of 11 players who are expected to make the team, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski officially reported Monday.

Per Woj, outside of Adebayo, among those 11 are:

  • Devin Booker, Suns
  • Stephen Curry, Warriors
  • Anthony Davis, Lakers
  • Kevin Durant, Suns
  • Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
  • Joel Embiid, 76ers
  • Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
  • Jrue Holiday, Celtics
  • LeBron James, Lakers
  • Jayson Tatum, Celtics

 

According to the AP’s Tim Reynolds, Adebayo committed to play for Team USA last fall, assuming he was healthy.

 

Should the roster be finalized in the coming days or weeks, it will mark the second straight Olympics for Adebayo. In the 2020 Olympics, Adebayo was Team USA’s starting big, averaging 6.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks across 19.3 minutes, shooting 57.1 percent from the floor and went 6-of-10 from the free-throw line.

The only other true center on that roster was JaVale McGee, who appeared in four of the 10 games for 20 combined minutes. Now, that will no longer be the case–as he will be alongside reigning MVP Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis, who last appeared in 2012.

Adebayo, 26, is a four-time second-team All-Defense honoree and is one of the best defensive players in America. He will help Team USA’s defensive versatility schematically and allow Davis and Embiid to hover around the rim as a backline rim protector more often.

He’s averaging 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks this season, shooting 52.1 percent from the floor, 35.7 percent from 3-point range (15-42!) and 75.5 percent from the free-throw line. There’s ongoing discussion on whether Adebayo, a top-25 player leaguewide, will make the All-NBA third team for the first time in his career–thus also making him eligible to sign the supermax this offseason when he’s due to for an extension.

It’s also worth noting that Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler were also on Team USA’s player pool when it was originally released. Though it appears unlikely that either will get the call for the 12th-and-final spot, barring something unforeseen.

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This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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