"USA Basketball better get some NBA stars that know how to play a role" - Devin Booker's tweet accepting Kyle Kuzma's challenge resurfaces

Team USA 's disappointing showing in the 2023 FIBA World Cup had Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma calling on USA Basketball to find NBA stars willing to be role players. Kuzma's post on X (formerly Twitter) drew a response from Devin Booker, who said, "I'll do it."

The Phoenix Suns star's repost has resurfaced 10 months later, as he has appeared true to his word. Booker answered the call to represent the country in the 2024 Olympics and has been cool with focusing on defense and going to the corner for a few possessions.

Team USA's revenge trail

Considering that the U.S. has won the past four Olympic basketball tournaments, one might wonder why it is highly motivated to clinch the gold in Paris.

Besides being a matter of national pride, the Red, White, and Blue have failed to medal in the past two FIBA World Cups. They finished seventh in 2019 before settling for fourth place in the 2023 edition. As such, other nations probably believe they have caught up to America in basketball. Whether that assertion holds water depends on the results of the Paris Olympics.

Booker and the rest of the U.S. A-team are bent on proving that they are still well ahead of the competition. So far, so good, as this collection of American stars has yet to lose a game together. They went 5-0 in exhibition play before defeating Serbia in their Olympic opener.

Related: "The Olympics are a business" - Mark Cuban reiterates his stance that NBA players shouldn't participate in the Olympics

DBook embracing his role

However, one of the challenges for this version of Team USA is that it seems to have more go-to guys than elite role players. Only Derrick White appears to fit the bill of assuming the roles the likes of Jason Kidd, Tayshaun Prince, Tyson Chandler, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Kyle Lowry, Keldon Johnson, and JaVale McGee filled in previous years.

However, Booker has shown no problem taking a backseat to his current teammates after having been used to being the No. 1 or No. 2 option in Phoenix. And despite being in and out of the starting lineup in the USA Basketball Showcase before receiving the assignment against Serbia, he has registered the highest plus/minus among all American players.

The following contests could be a huge test for the four-time All-Star because a fully healthy Kevin Durant will likely get the starting nod. That could mean a "demotion" for either Booker or Jrue Holiday because LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Joel Embiid are locked into coach Steve Kerr's opening lineup. Holiday will likely nail the fifth spot because of his defensive prowess.

Related: Kendrick Perkins goes off on Steve Kerr for not playing Jayson Tatum vs. Serbia: "You do not disrespect him and embarrass him"