Team USA men’s basketball has not won a medal in the last two FIBA World Cups, but their dominance on the international stage remains unmatched. The men’s teams have clinched gold in 16 of the 19 tournaments held at the Summer Olympics.
Despite this, assembling the 2024 roster saw some notable omissions from a pool of 41 potential candidates. In this article, we will look at the 5 NBA Stars who were shockingly left out of the roster.
Top 5 Surprising Snubs from Team USA
1. Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown was the most significant exclusion from Team USA. The Boston Celtics star recently ended a stellar season, securing a championship and winning MVP awards in both the conference finals and NBA finals. He averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 70 games during the 2023–24 season and made his third All-Star appearance.
Despite these achievements, Brown was left off the roster. Even after Kawhi Leonard withdrew due to injury, Derrick White was chosen as his replacement. It left Brown frustrated as he shared a cryptic post on social media.
2. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving, who played a crucial role in the Dallas Mavericks reaching the NBA finals for the first time in 13 years, was another surprising omission. Irving averaged 25.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in 58 games last season.
Reports suggest that his exclusion might be linked to his sharing of antisemitic content on social media. It led Nike, a longtime partner of USA Basketball, to terminate their contract with him.
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3. Jalen Brunson
Jalen Brunson is often considered one of the best players in the Eastern Conference. Hence, his snub was particularly disappointing for New York Knicks fans, as Brunson averaged 28.7 points and 6.7 assists. He led an injury-depleted Knicks team to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
4. Paul George
Paul George, who has already proven his worth with a 2016 Olympic gold medal for Team USA, was not included either. The former Los Angeles Clippers star is now with the Philadelphia 76ers. Later, he stated that he did not wish to join the team, even if called as a replacement.
The NBA legend averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists with the Clippers last season.
5. Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler was also overlooked for the Paris Olympics 2024. However, it was later reported that the Miami Heat star was left off the roster by personal choice. He last played in the 2016 Olympics.
Notably, Butler has never represented Team USA at the FIBA World Cup and has expressed his disinterest in the event. The Miami Heat forward averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last season.
Team USA is the favorite to take home gold for a fifth consecutive summer game this year. It will remain to be seen if they can achieve the feat without these star players
Also Read: “Got No Comment” – Jaylen Brown Dodges Team USA Snub Question at ESPY Awards.
