Team USA has finally begun preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Gil's Arena podcast recently discussed their thoughts on the 12-man roster. Sharing his candid opinion, Brandon Jennings emphasized how Joel Embiid 's inclusion doesn't make sense on the U.S. team, considering he was born in Cameroon and holds a French passport.
Additionally, the former Milwaukee Bucks guard also named Tyrese Haliburton as the player who doesn't merit a place on the star-studded team.
"He's(Embiid) not American, where was he born?... Go play for them," Jennings said . " Tyrese Haliburton shouldn't be up there. I don't know about that...everybody else is good, though."
Is Haliburton not deserving of a spot on Team USA?
While former players like Jennings might question Tyrese's place and role on the team, it's important to consider that among these score-first veterans, Hali could play a substantial facilitating role. Moreover, the Indiana Pacers star has been no slouch this season, earning an All-NBA selection and an All-Star nod after leading the league in assists (10.9).
The Team USA roster also includes young players like Anthony Edwards (25.9 PPG), Jayson Tatum (26.9 PPG PPG), and Devin Booker (27.1 PPG)—all of whom led their respective teams in scoring. A pass-first mentality in Haliburton could be vital when these young stars take the court together.
While the Wisconsin native may not start for Team USA, his minutes off the bench could prove crucial for coach Steve Kerr. His ability to create scoring opportunities for others could be particularly important as Team USA aims to make a strong statement in these Olympic Games.
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Haliburton knows there will be pressure on him
There is no denying that it hasn't been long for Tyrese to be considered among one of the top players of the next generation. Hali acknowledged the pressure on him and rather expressed his desire to use this opportunity to learn from all-time greats.
"I don't think any of us would have it any other way. I think we all welcome that pressure, and it's a lot of fun for us to come together as top guys in the NBA share the floor together," Tyrese said . "It's cool to actually compete for something real."
That being said, as one of the players who witnessed Team USA underperform in the 2023 FIBA WC, Haliburton certainly has much to prove on the international stage.
Related: Kevin Durant says the Paris Dream Team is the deepest team he's played for: "From top to bottom, everybody is the guy on their team"
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