Team USA can take comfort knowing that Captain America is here to rescue the day.

The spotlight has now turned towards seeking redemption in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, following Team USA's disappointing performance in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. In this tournament, the American team failed to secure a medal for the second consecutive time, losing to Canada in the battle for third place. There is a prevailing expectation that when the Olympics arrive, the United States will assemble a roster with the potential to secure its fifth consecutive gold medal. This optimism stems from the fact that most of the top American NBA players were not part of the FIBA roster.

Even though formal invitations and public commitments are still in the future, there have been preliminary discussions happening behind closed doors. According to reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic, LeBron James has expressed interest in participating in the 2024 Olympics and is 1ly trying to persuade some of his superstar peers to join him in Paris next summer. James, who will be 39 when the Olympics take place in Paris, has reached out to a diverse group of celebrities, and if they all agree to participate, it could make for an exceptional event. Reports suggest that the list of potential participants includes Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, and Draymond Green.

James, Curry, and Durant have engaged in conversations about representing Team USA in the upcoming summer, viewing it as a final opportunity for these veteran players to compete on the international stage. James' last appearance in Olympic competition was in 2012, where he secured a gold medal in London alongside Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant. Durant, who was part of the gold-winning 2020 Tokyo Olympics squad, was recognized as the MVP of that particular team.

Among the trio of athletes, Curry stands out as possibly the most motivated, as he has yet to make his debut on the Olympic stage for Team USA, and winning a gold medal would be the crowning achievement in his illustrious Hall of Fame-worthy career.

Aside from the aforementioned trio of stars, Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, De'Aaron Fox, and Kyrie Irving have expressed their interest in donning the Team USA jersey, as reported by Charania. However, it's important to note that while these elite players seem keen at this stage, a lot can evolve between now and the upcoming summer when a firm commitment becomes necessary. This is particularly relevant if any of their respective teams make a deep postseason run, as success in the playoffs often leads players to reconsider their participation to avoid overexertion.

Nonetheless, if even a fraction of the aforementioned star players pledge to participate in the upcoming summer, Team USA's roster will likely be significantly more talented compared to the one they fielded for the World Cup. Nevertheless, the United States' fourth-place finish in the World Cup emphasized the pressing need for size to be a competitive force on the global stage. Throughout their World Cup campaign, Team USA faced challenges on the offensive boards, resulting in critical second-chance opportunities for their opponents, which played a pivotal role in their semifinal loss to Germany.

In Paris next year, the United States will have to secure size to match up against formidable opponents, as Serbia is expected to feature Nikola Jokic, while France boasts Rudy Gobert and the rising star Victor Wembanyama. This task of acquiring size poses a challenge because the pool of elite American big men is not particularly deep. The reigning MVP, Joel Embiid, is currently contemplating the possibility of representing Team USA in the upcoming summer, but he is also weighing the option of playing for France. Should he opt for the latter, the American team would find themselves at an even more significant size disadvantage.

Grant Hill and the rest of Team USA's decision-makers have ample time to define the composition of a well-rounded team, but one of their top concerns should be ensuring sufficient size within the roster. Nevertheless, considering the scoring prowess possessed by the trio of LeBron, Curry, and Durant, it's possible that the significance of size may be somewhat diminished if all three commit to competing.