Will Kawhi Leonard (left) and LeBron James start for Team USA in Paris?
Periodically, NBA.com’s writers will weigh in on key storylines or trending topics around the league.
Which five players should start for Team USA at the Paris Olympics?
Steve Aschburner
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Might as well start the Legends. That starting lineup would boast 12 NBA rings and eight MVP trophies. But it also would stack up as 173 years old, an average age of 34.6 years. Pretty long in the tooth compared to some global rivals. Keep in mind the fabled 1992 Dream Team had only two guys aged 31 or older to this squad’s seven. James, Curry and Durant already are older than Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were on their way out the door in ’92. And the Dream Team’s top five in minutes logged in those Barcelona Games averaged 28.6 years old. How will Team USA spell gold in Paris? “Gee, old.”
Brian Martin
Here are the five players I’d choose to start, but I’m just as interested in seeing Steve Kerr’s closing lineup when Team USA gets challenged.
- Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
- Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Assuming good health (especially with KD missing some of training camp due to calf soreness), I would start the four NBA MVPs in Curry, LeBron, Durant and Embiid, with one spot up for grabs. After a lack of size hurt Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, Kerr could go with Anthony Davis next to Embiid and have three players at 6-foot-10 or taller on the frontline. Or he could go with a more traditional backcourt with Edwards, Devin Booker or Jrue Holiday next to Curry.
While the US failed to medal at the World Cup, Kerr raved about Edwards all last summer. His two-way ability and elite athleticism will offer balance to a starting five featuring three players age 35 or older.
Shaun Powell
- Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
- Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Let’s make this clear: Starting only carries clout in the gold medal game. That’s when, presumably, USA will see its toughest test. And even then, that test could demand a small quick lineup or a bigger lineup, not necessarily the “best” lineup. It’s a roundabout way of saying it all depends. Anyway, Kerr is on record that the lineup will change almost game to game. Egos, you know.
John Schuhmann
This is a little gimmicky, but also comes with some strategy.
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Putting Davis at the four obviously compromises the team’s shooting, and I’d be a little nervous about James and Embiid as the primary defenders in a bunch of pick-and-rolls. But good luck scoring in the paint or grabbing any rebounds against five guys who are no shorter than 6-foot-8. Really, who starts doesn’t matter. It’s not that the United States is unbeatable, but rather that anybody on this roster could deserve to start (or close) games. It’s about finding the right mix and the hot hands by the time they get to the quarterfinals on Aug. 6.
Michael C. Wright
Depth affords Team USA flexibility for creativity with various combinations based on situational needs, meaning the starting five likely won’t be the group that winds up finishing games.
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
- Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
This group provides plenty of scoring as all five players in this lineup are virtually unguardable. Curry and James (a two-time gold medal winner) can handle facilitation duties in addition to scoring, and there’s no way you keep an Olympics legend like Durant out of the starting five, if healthy, of course. A three-time Olympics gold medalist, Durant has led the competition in scoring average in 2012, 2016 and 2020 and ranks No. 1 in Team USA history for points (435), 3-pointers (74) and free throws (69).
