After failing to earn a medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Olympics quickly approaching, Team USA has seen a plethora of stars from around the NBA offer themselves as the team hopes to regain its position atop the world’s basketball hierarchy. After adding Kawhi Leonard to finalize its 12 roster spots, there is no room for any more players from the National Team’s managing director Grant Hill’s pool of possible players, which was announced in January. From the pool of 41 players, 30 names were vying for one spot. Here’s a look at who could’ve been the 12th man for Team USA in Paris this summer.
Paolo Banchero, PF, Orlando Magic
Quietly, Banchero has led the Orlando Magic back to relevancy, as they have secured the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and have qualified for the NBA Playoffs for the first time in four years. The dynamic power forward averaged 22.6 points per game alongside 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists this season, all tops for Orlando. The 21-year-old proved that he could do it all on the court this season. His addition to the team would’ve shored up the power forward position and would allow names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum to play their natural position of small forward instead of being forced to play big.
Jalen Brunson, PG, New York Knicks
Brunson was the man all season long, which is exactly what New York needed from their 27-year-old point guard. Evolving over the last few seasons to become one of the league’s premier scorers, Brunson averaged 28.7 points per game, fourth-best in the NBA, on a solid 47.9% from the field on the campaign. His consistency and ability to be on the court for nearly every game proved invaluable for a New York squad that lost Julius Randle for the second half of the regular season. Team USA has Stephen Curry locked into the point guard position with Tyrese Haliburton the backup. But at 6-foot-5 with the ability to guard multiple positions, sliding Haliburton to the two position to allow Brunson playing time could’ve made Team USA’s scoring that much more lethal.
Paul George, SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers
George was his usual dominant self in his fifth season with the Clippers, playing in his most games in a season since 2018-19. In 74 contests, by far his most in a Los Angeles uniform, PG13 put up averages of 22.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 3.5 APG. He did so on 47.1% shooting from the field, 41.3% from beyond the three-point line and 90.7% from the charity stripe, all career-highs. He also chipped in 1.5 steals per game, proving that he continues to be a force on both ends of the court. Team USA is missing out on one of the best two-way players without George despite having just gained another in his Clippers teammate, Leonard. At 33-years-old and still putting up electric numbers, George appears to have stood the test of time and has rebounded remarkably after years of being plagued by the injury bug.
Damian Lillard, PG, Milwaukee Bucks
In what amounted to an utterly mind-boggling season in Milwaukee, the addition of Damian Lillard played out just about as most had expected it to, with him being an elite offensive-minded playmaker. Playing in his most games since the 2018-19 campaign, Lillard put up a respectable 24.3 PPG and 7.0 APG, the latter the 10th-most in the NBA this year. As if the USA needed additional scorers, putting Lillard alongside the likes of guards like Curry, Haliburton, Devin Booker and Anthony Edwards could’ve created a dynamic of scoring and playmaking that would force other teams to play quick and guard the three-point line, opening up opportunities all around the floor.
Other
There was really no bad option when it comes to Team USA’s player pool, and while the names listed are the most likely to be chosen, any of the following could be a not-so-surprising pick for the final roster spot. Players like Scottie Barnes, Jaylen Brown, Jimmy Butler, De’Aaron Fox, James Harden, Chet Holmgren, Kyrie Irving, Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young are all coming off of stellar seasons in the NBA. Let’s hope that they have their chance to prove their worthiness for a Team USA spot in the future, especially young guns like Banchero and Holmgren.