On 29 June, USA Basketball officially announced the 12-man squad that will compete for a fourth consecutive gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.
Ahead of the start of the men’s basketball competition on 25 July, get to know each member of Team USA, their head coach, and the competition schedule at Tokyo 2020.
Kevin Durant
- Position: forward
- Height: 208.3cm (6’10”)
- Age: 32
- Team: Brooklyn Nets
With his selection to the U.S. Olympic Team, Kevin Durant joins an exclusive club as one of only four male players selected to three or more Olympic teams (the other three are Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and David Robinson). Durant, in addition to being a two-time NBA champion, is a two-time Olympic gold medallist (London 2012 & Rio 2016) and finished as the U.S. team’s leading scorer at both competitions. At Tokyo 2020, Durant (311) will have the opportunity to surpass Anthony (336) for most Olympic points by a male player in U.S. basketball history.
Kevin Love
- Position: forward
- Height: 203.2cm (6’8”)
- Age: 32
- Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Kevin Love is one of only three players on the 2021 U.S. men’s team with prior Olympic experience, having won gold alongside Durant at London 2012. The 2016 NBA champion and five-time All-Star also won gold as part of the victorious U.S. team at the 2010 FIBA World Cup.
Draymond Green
- Position: forward
- Height: 198.1cm (6’6”)
- Age: 31
- Team: Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green, along with Love and Durant, is the only other member of the U.S. team with Olympic experience; Green and Durant played on the U.S. squad that won gold at Rio 2016. As a member of the Golden State Warriors, Green has won three NBA championships, a Defensive Player of the Year award (2017) and is a three-time All-Star.
Damian Lillard
- Position: guard
- Height: 188cm (6’2”)
- Age: 30
- Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard joins the U.S. Olympic Team following a season in which he led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. Lillard, who posted the third-highest per game scoring average in the league (28.8) this season, was selected to his fourth All-NBA Second Team, as well as his sixth All-Star team.
Bradley Beal
- Position: guard
- Height: 190.5cm (6’3”)
- Age: 28
- Team: Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal has been an elite scorer in the NBA for the past five years, and in the 2020-21 season finished second in the scoring charts with a 31.3 points per game average. Beal is a three-time NBA All-Star, and in 2021 he was named to the All-NBA Third Team.
Devin Booker
- Position: guard
- Height: 195.6cm (6’5”)
- Age: 24
- Team: Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker is one of three players on the U.S. team currently competing in the NBA postseason, with Booker’s Phoenix Suns set to face the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals. At just 24, Booker has already established himself as one of the top players in the NBA. He is the youngest player in NBA history to record 60 or more points in a game, and is one of just six players in NBA history with multiple career games scoring 59+ points (the others being Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, James Harden, and Elgin Baylor).
Jrue Holiday
- Position: guard
- Height: 190.5cm (6’3”)
- Age: 31
- Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Jrue Holiday and Milwaukee Bucks teammate Khris Middleton have both been named to the U.S. Olympic Team, though they must first contend with Booker and the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals before they can join their Olympic teammates. 12-year NBA veteran Jrue Holiday is recognized as one of the best defenders in basketball; he has been named to three All-Defensive teams during his career (First Team in 2018 and 2021, Second Team in 2019).
Khris Middleton
- Position: forward
- Height: 200.7cm (6’7”)
- Age: 29
- Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Khris Middelton’s selection to the Olympic Team marks the second time he will suit up for Team USA after previously representing his country at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, where the U.S. finished seventh. Middleton is a two-time All-Star and, alongside Jrue Holiday, is preparing to face the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals (Game 1 of the Finals tips off on Tuesday, 6 July).
Jayson Tatum
- Position: forward
- Height: 203.2cm (6’8”)
- Age: 23
- Team: Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum is the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Team, but already has two All-Star selections under his belt, as well as an All-NBA Third Team selection. Tatum was a member of the U.S. team that finished seventh at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Zach LaVine
- Position: guard
- Height: 195.6cm (6’5”)
- Age: 26
- Team: Chicago Bulls
Two-time NBA Slam Dunk champion Zach LaVine enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in the 2020-21 campaign, posting career highs in points (27.4), rebounds (5.0) and assists (4.9) per game. Based on his superb season, LaVine received his first All-Star selection and will represent the U.S. for the first time in international competition in Tokyo.
Bam Adebayo
- Position: forward/center
- Height: 205.7cm (6’9”)
- Age: 23
- Team: Miami Heat
Although the Miami Heat were unable to repeat their success of the 2019-20 campaign (when the team made the NBA Finals, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games), Bam Adebayo produced another stellar season, posting career highs in points (18.7) and steals per game (1.2). He was also named to the All-NBA Defensive Second Team for a second consecutive season.
Jerami Grant
- Position: forward
- Height: 203.2cm (6’8”)
- Age: 27
- Team: Detroit Pistons
Jerami Grant has been somewhat of a journeyman during his seven years in the NBA, but he enjoyed his best season to date in the 2020-21 campaign after signing with the Detroit Pistons (his fifth team) in free agency. Grant increased his scoring output to 22.3 points per game (after scoring 12.0ppg the season prior in Denver), and finished second in voting for the Most Improved Player award (awarded to Julius Randle of the New York Knicks).
Gregg Popovich - Head Coach
(2019 Getty Images)
Gregg Popovich returns to coach the U.S. men’s international team in what will be his first Olympics as a head coach. Popovich, a five-time NBA champion as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, was an assistant coach for the USA Olympic team at Athens 2004. He most recently coached the men’s team at the FIBA 2019 World Cup, where the U.S. finished a disappointing seventh.
Tokyo 2020 men’s basketball schedule
The men’s basketball competition at Tokyo 2020 kicks off with the group stage, with 12 teams divided into three groups of four teams each. Group games run from 25 July to 2 August. The United States, the number 1 ranked team in the world, are in Group A alongside 2019 FIBA World Cup bronze medalist France, 2017 Asia Cup runner-up Iran, and the Czech Republic.
READ MORE: Germany, Slovenia, Italy and the Czech Republic secure Olympic basketball berths
The teams placed first and second in each group, plus the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals on 3 August. The semifinals take place on 5 August, with the gold and bronze medal games scheduled for 7 August.
