Jrue Holiday is anticipated to be a part of the 2024 Olympic team following his pivotal role as a player during the Tokyo Olympics. Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, the official Tokyo games were held in 2021.
The USA Men's Basketball team is aiming for redemption following a disappointing 4th place in the FIBA World Cup. Despite being ranked no.1 by FIBA globally, the team suffered defeats against Germany and Canada. Shams Charania, an NBA insider for The Athletic, reports that Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker are anticipated to be among the 12 core members of the forthcoming Olympic team.
Holiday, 33 was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Boston Celtics in a surprising move following the Damian Lillard trade. Renowned as one of the premier two-way players in basketball, Holiday excels as an elite perimeter defender and has been integral to the Celtics' success this season.
Across 53 games, the guard has maintained averages of 13 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Impressively, Holiday ranks 9th overall in three-point shooting with a 44.3 percent success rate, having made 108 shots from beyond the arc this season. Notably, he leads the NBA with an outstanding 63% accuracy rate from corner threes.
With 15 years of experience in the NBA and a championship title under his belt, Holiday has established himself as a seasoned veteran. He was a key figure in the 2020 Olympic team, contributing significantly to their gold medal triumph in Tokyo. Throughout the six matchups, spanning the group phase, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals, Holiday maintained averages of 11.9 points, 3.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 4.8 rebounds.
Jrue Holiday played a pivotal role on the Tokyo Gold Medal-winning roster
JRUE HOLIDAY 👏
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One of the most valuable players on the Bucks & Team USA pic.twitter.com/Kyoz1bV0Yl
His shooting prowess was evident, with a commendable 48.8% accuracy from the floor, with 55% of his shots being two-pointers. This impressive performance solidified his status as an Olympic gold medalist. A vital part of the 2020 squad, Holiday excelled as a reliable contributor on offense and defense, making crucial defensive stops during matchups.
Amongst a roster brimming with stars, Holiday stood out by finishing third in both scoring and rebounds, while also leading in assists. Hypothetically, if Boston were to embark on a serious championship pursuit and reach the Finals, Holiday would seamlessly transition into Olympic preparation and practice immediately thereafter.
With his exceptional playmaking skills and basketball IQ, Holiday is among the first players to commit to the 2024 Paris USA Olympic team.
Devin Booker and Jrue Holiday were both core members of the Tokyo USA Olympic team
Devin Booker is a problem #ballislife pic.twitter.com/DAIwqtljs5
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Although the USA men's basketball roster is not finalized, Devin Booker seems to be the second player committed to participating in the Olympics, as reported by The Athletic.
In his ninth season, all with the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker is averaging 27.5 points, a career-high 7.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds. With Bradley Beal sidelined for much of the season, Booker has assumed additional responsibilities alongside Kevin Durant. He's shooting a career-high 49.6 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Appearing in 48 games this season, Booker has been a cornerstone of the Suns team, which currently holds the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference with a record of 34-24. Known for his elite mid-range jumpers, Booker has been a core member in the team's resurgence over the last couple of years. Similar to Holiday, Booker was a member of the 2020 Tokyo USA Olympic team and is a gold medalist.
Participating in all six games of the 2020 Olympics, Booker ranked 5th in points with 9.3 per game. Additionally, the guard finished second on the team in steals per game (1.5) and averaged 20.6 minutes per game. Booker is a seasoned veteran known for his exceptional versatility and elite scoring ability on the offensive end of the court.
Team USA is the reigning four-time Olympic gold medalist in men’s basketball
The USA Men's Basketball team boasts an unblemished record in the Olympics over the past 16 years. During this remarkable streak, the team has secured gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
As training camp commences in July, emerging news will reveal the members of the 12-man roster for Team USA. Taking into account factors such as health and prior commitments, Team USA initially released a list of 41 players who could serve as replacements if needed.
As the 2024 Paris Olympics are scheduled to kick off in late July, the USA Men's National Team will be under the guidance of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
Additional details regarding both the Men's and Women's Olympic teams will be disseminated as the event draws nearer.
RELATED: USA WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM HOLDS MINI CAMP IN BROOKLYN
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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