When the Team USA roster was announced for the 2024 Olympics, many people were hyped to see several NBA stars committed, including those nearing the end of their prime. On the flip side, some folks were wondering why LeBron James , Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant opted to play when they were on the wrong side of 30.
Retired legend Kevin Garnett offered an interesting theory as to why the said superstars would rather participate in high-level competition during the summer than rest and prepare for the 2024-25 NBA season.
"This is my theory on why they jumped into USA — because you can never get in game shape in the summer on your own," Garnett postulated . "… I'm telling you, with Bron and everybody being older, you have to start a little earlier to get your body going in the summer."
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LeBron and Co. warming up for upcoming season?
The former Boston Celtics champion may have a point, which could have also been based on his own experience. After all, he eventually became an elder statesman in the Association after putting a lot of mileage on his body. While KG didn't play in the Olympics again after 2000, he had probably thought about finding ways to warm his body up during summers and before training camps.
However, James is already pushing 40, while Curry and Durant are midway into their 30s. Using the Olympics as a tune-up for the next NBA campaign probably isn't the soundest advice.
It's also possible that the trio have other agendas in their minds besides trying to put the U.S. back on top after the squad had a non-podium finish in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
LeBron could be seeking a third Olympic gold medal, which would put him ahead of two-time Olympian Michael Jordan in that department. Steph likely wanted to experience it for the first and last time , having never participated in the Olympics before this year. Meanwhile, KD has played in the previous three editions and probably looked to keep the streak going despite nursing a calf injury.
Garnett's prediction about Ant
The "Big Ticket" also boasted that he correctly predicted Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards would have a breakout season in the NBA after his Team USA stint last year. The former No. 1 pick also credited the experience of donning the Red, White, and Blue as the reason for his evolution in the 2023-24 season.
As many fans remember, "Ant-Man" emerged as the Americans' go-to guy in the Manila World Cup. His experience on the national squad helped him develop his leadership skills, as the 2024 All-NBA Second-Team selection led the Wolves pack to the Western Conference No. 3 seed and a conference finals appearance last campaign.
Related: Kevin Garnett shares how LeBron can continue to defy Father Time: "Bron could play 10 more years in a Draymond role"
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