The three NBA stars remain the face of the league with their distinguishable accomplishments and talent. So how will a potential Olympic gold medal further enhance the respective legacies of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant? Their impact on the 2024 U.S. Olympics will soon become evident that’s for sure.
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U.S Olympic Veteran Sages
James (four), Curry (four), and Durant (two) have already collected plenty of NBA championship hardware. James (four), Curry (two), and Durant (one) have already won regular-season MVP awards. James (No. 1 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list), Curry (No. 1 on NBA’s all-time 3-point list), and Durant (No. 8 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list) have already etched themselves among the league leaders in key statistical milestones.
Therefore, James, Curry, and Durant have a secure resume ahead of their inevitable Hall-of-Fame inductions without winning gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Undoubtedly, no star wants to be associated with the U.S. Men’s Olympic team failing to win a gold medal for the first time since 2004 and only the second time since the program fielded professional players with the 1992 “Dream Team.” What would winning gold do for their respective legacies, though?
On the surface, it might appear that James, Curry, and Durant will simply serve as the team’s veteran sages. They will want to become among the team’s saviors to rectify Team USA’s fourth-place finish in last year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup. They will surely have the most command of the team’s locker room. And they also have the flexibility either to play a significant or reduced role, depending on their health and priorities for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Securing A Gold Stem
Besides tapping into the patriotic feelings that inevitably arise during these games, James, Durant, and Curry aren’t participating simply just to check a box. Consider that the quest for James, Curry, and Durant to secure gold stems from different circumstances.
James
James won two Olympic gold medals in Beijing (2008) and 2012 (London) after being part of the U.S.’s team that settled for bronze in the 2004 Athens Games. He missed the past two Olympics in hopes of recharging from winning an NBA championship (Rio in 2016) and from a compressed season during the pandemic (Tokyo in 2021).
By committing to the 2024 Paris Games, James can secure the second-most gold medals won with the U.S. Men’s Olympic team.
Durant
Durant would tie Carmelo Anthony for most gold medals in Team USA’s Olympic history (four).
After already winning gold in 2012, 2016, and 2021, Durant has become USA Basketball’s all-time leader in points (435) and could further separate himself from Anthony (336), James (273), and David Robinson (270). Durant could also eclipse Anthony’s career 37-point games against Nigeria (2012) and Australia (2016).
Curry
Curry will play in the Olympics for the first time in his career. He did not cut the 2012 London Games despite helping Team USA win a gold medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championships.
Curry skipped the games in 2016 and 2021 both to rest and heal from various injuries. Curry rightfully downplayed his lack of winning a Finals MVP during any of his first three NBA title runs. Just like when he won his first Finals MVP during his fourth NBA championship, however, Curry would completely round out his resume with his first Olympic gold medal.
The Dynamics & Team Recruitment
Beyond the chance to further stuff their basketball resumes, consider the other dynamics.
James and Anthony Davis will team on a U.S. Olympics team nearly 12 years after doing so in the 2012 London Games. Curry will play for both his current head coach at Golden State (Steve Kerr) and with his former teammate who helped him win two of his four NBA titles (Durant). After both experienced two consecutive first-round playoff exits in Phoenix, Durant will reunite with teammate Devin Booker.
As it has played out in past Olympic runs, all three of them could use this time to recruit for their respective teams. Nearly 16 years after James had initial talks with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh about teaming up together as free agents, perhaps James talks to some of the other Team USA stars about joining the Lakers before he retires. With the Warriors in danger of losing Klay Thompson in free agency, perhaps Curry becomes just as aggressive with talking with Team USA teammates to play with him later in Golden State. After becoming the NBA’s mercenary in Golden State, Brooklyn, and Phoenix, perhaps Durant has further clarity on where and with whom he wants to play for next.
At the very least, James, Curry, and Durant should produce something special in the Paris Games. They didn’t need to play on this year’s Team USA to enhance their legacy. But they presumably will showcase once again why their legacy has already become so special in the 2024 U.S. Olympics.
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