Durant among NBA stars ready to play for USA at Paris Olympics

FILE PHOTO: NBA player Kevin Durant attends a 2023 FIBA World Cup exhibition game between Puerto Rico and the United States at T-Mobile Arena on 7 August 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry were among the NBA superstars who said on Monday they were interested in playing for the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
An American lineup of NBA talent will seek a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal next year in France, where Durant could become the first US man with four basketball golds.
"I will play in the Olympics next year," Durant said during media day for the NBA Phoenix Suns.
All-time NBA scoring leader James, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar who won gold in 2008 and 2012, downplayed his interest, saying simply, "Yeah, I do. I do have interest. We'll see what happens."
But other players said that four-time NBA champion James, a forward who turns 39 in December, has been a major force behind the scenes in pulling together top players for the 2024 Olympic roster.
"I would love to," said Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers. "I know Bron is in the forefront of creating a hell of a roster. But that's first and foremost on how my body is, how my health is, to finish the season.
"It all depends on how well we do and how far we go this season. That would play a lot into my decision on going and playing over in France."
James knows well the impact a six-month NBA regular season and two months of playoffs can have upon players and their bodies even before the grind of preparing and playing for Olympic gold.
But James downplayed the wear and tear factor.
"Physical toll? I'll see how I feel at the end of the season," he said.
"From the players that we have here off the top of my head that could fill that roster up, I don't think it would be too much of a physical toll.
"I wouldn't have to do much. Rebound a little bit, pass a little bit, defend, block some shots, you know? But we'll see. We'll see what happens."
Lakers power forward Anthony Davis, who figures to be a key big man on the US roster, noted he had already told teammate James that, "If they ask me, I'm in."
