Which Are Team USA Basketball’s Debutants for the 2024 Paris Olympics? Everything You Need to Know

Team USA debutantTeam USA (Image source: Getty Images)
Team USA enters the Paris Olympics with a star-studded roster, boasting twelve players with NBA experience. This impressive lineup includes three NBA stars making their Olympic debuts: Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton.

Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid is originally from Cameroon. But he chose to represent Team USA over his native country. The Philadelphia 76ers star, who moved to the United States at the age of 16, made this decision due to his son’s American citizenship.

Embiid was drafted by Philadelphia and played eight seasons for the 76ers. Throughout these years, he averaged 27.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 433 regular-season games.

Anthony Edwards

(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves standout, will also make his Olympic debut in Paris. Edwards was the first overall pick out of the University of Georgia.

According to StatMuse, the Timberwolves star has averaged 22.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists over four seasons with the team.

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Tyrese Haliburton

Tyrese Haliburton kicked off his NBA career after being selected with the 12th pick by the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft. In 2023, the Indiana Pacers acquired him as part of a trade package for Domantas Sabonis.

The Pacers star is coming off a season averaging 20.1 points, 3.9 assists, and 10.9 rebounds.

Apart from these debutants, Team USA’s roster is loaded with other NBA superstars, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, and Derrick White. This formidable lineup positions Team USA as a strong favorite to win gold in Paris.

Team USA’s Star-Studded Roster Outplays Australia in a 98-92 Win

Team USA secured a 98-92 victory against Team Australia, with Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis playing a pivotal role. Davis contributed 17 points and 14 rebounds to pull off the victory.

Davis’ Lakers teammate LeBron James added 10 points to the team’s efforts. Devin Booker further bolstered the team’s performance with 16 points.
LeBron James LeBron James (Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images)
Anthony Edwards had a strong start against Australia, scoring 11 points in the first quarter alone. He finished the game with 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, playing a crucial role in the win.

Joel Embiid contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and two steals, while Bam Adebayo added 10 points, rounding out a solid team performance for Team USA.

These wins in the exhibition games are just flashes of Team USA’s determination for the Paris Olympics, as they are vying to end the journey by winning gold.