(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
Right after Team USA failed to medal in last summer’s FIBA World Cup, several NBA stars said they wanted to suit up for the United States to help it regain the gold medal in this summer’s Olympic Games.
It started a selection process for the final roster of Team USA, and with all the talent in the league these days, there have been some minor controversies about who made it and who is getting playing time.
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum didn’t play at all in the squad’s first game of group play, leading to head coach Steve Kerr being criticized, although Tatum was in the starting lineup for the second game.
One notable player who was left off the Team USA roster, Paul George, said he thought he would be on the squad after talking to head coach Steve Kerr months ago. However, the veteran says he doesn’t have any hard feelings, per 7PM in Brooklyn.
“Obviously I ain’t gonna be sour about it,” George said. “But at the same time it was like, damn, I was looking forward to representing the USA and being a part of that team.”
Paul George thought he was in for the USA Olympic team but he’s not sour about it pic.twitter.com/JfQI8Gdeal
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) July 31, 2024
Even in his mid-30s, George remains an impact player, as he’s one of a handful of forwards or wings who can score 20-25 points consistently while stifling the opponent’s star forward or wing on the defensive end.
In 14 NBA seasons, he has been named to the All-Star team nine times and has been a member of the All-Defensive team four times.
After five fruitless seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, George elected to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer in free agency, and he will be teaming up with Olympian Joel Embiid as well as Tyrese Maxey.
While George won’t get to win a gold medal this summer, he should have a real chance at an NBA championship ring this coming season.
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