MISSING MAVERICK
LeBron James and Steph Curry to lead stacked USA Basketball team for Paris 2024 Olympics bid but fans notice an omission
One spot remains vacant in Team USA's reported lineup
TEAM USA is reportedly set to take on the 2024 Paris Olympics with a loaded basketball lineup for the ages.
Reminiscent of the 1992 Dream Team that won gold in Barcelona, this year's reported lineup features some of the greatest players to have graced the court.
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Headlined by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Golden State Warriors legend Steph Curry, 10 of the USA's 11-man lineup was reported on Monday by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Other squad members include Kevin Durant and Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday of the Boston Celtics, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, and Anthony Davis of the Lakers.
It was added that according to a source, Team USA has opted to keep a final spot vacant "ahead of a July training camp and exhibition games in Las Vegas."
However, while many fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, were quick to share in their excitement about the news, some took issue with some familiar faces missing from the lineup.
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"Haliburton over [Jalen] Brunson ?? is absurd," one wrote.
"Add Brunson or Kawhi [Leonard]," tweeted a second.
"No De'Aaron Fox is wild," said a third.
But there was one name in particular that repeatedly surfaced in the comments.
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"Kyrie [Irving] needs to be on here," replied one fan.
"Kyrie should be there though," added another.
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Eight-time NBA All-Star Irving, 32, has been in impressive form this season for the Dallas Mavericks, forging a dangerous partnership with Luka Doncic.
His omission is perhaps all the more surprising given that he previously represented Team USA at the Olympics in 2016, winning gold in Rio de Janeiro.
Irving also won the 2014 FIBA World Cup with the US.
Despite the Maverick star having, so far, missed out, there is plenty of Olympic experience in the lineup.
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Durant has previously won gold at three Olympic Games - London, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo - a feat only matched by Carmelo Anthony, as per ESPN.
This will also be James' fourth Olympics, having won bronze in Athens and gold in both Beijing and London.
Between all the players already named, Team USA boasts 78 All-Star appearances and 12 NBA Championships.
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They will be led by coach Steve Kerr of the Warriors, who was an assistant when they won gold in Tokyo.
Kerr won five NBA Championships as a player and four so far as a head coach.
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