Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday Considered Locks for 2024 USA Olympic Team

Photo/FortyEightMinutes

USA Basketball had originally listed 41 NBA players as finalists to be considered for their 2024 Paris Olympics team. It’s becoming more clear which players will be named to the final 12-man roster, as certain players have already been labeled as locks to represent Team USA.

Photo/Winslow Townson-USA Today Sports

Among that group of players that are considered to be locks are teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday of the Boston Celtics to participate. Tatum and Holiday helped lead Team USA to a Gold Medal in the most recent Olympics in Tokyo, while Holiday played the second most minutes per game among Team USA’s players. The Celtics have never had two players represent USA Basketball in the Olympics. Aside from Tatum in 2020, Larry Bird is the only other Celtic to play for Team USA in the Olympics. There have been rumors that USA Basketball had been pursuing Jrue Holiday for most of the season before he finally committed, sources have said. Jaylen Brown is also among players still able to earn a roster spot as he was one of the 41 finalists.

Photo/The Athletic

Other players that have been listed as locks include Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid and Devin Booker. In the most recent Olympics in Tokyo, Durant passed Carmelo Anthony to become USA Basketball’s All-Time leading scorer on his way to winning the Olympic MVP. There were also reports earlier this year that Lebron James was ‘spearheading’ a group of players behind the scenes to lead USA Basketball’s Paris roster. After originally receiving his French citizenship in 2022, Joel Embiid has since declared his intent to play for the United States. With five spots still left to be filled, Team USA is certainly trying to put together the best possible group of players to take home Gold yet again at the Paris Olympics this Summer.