Plenty of legends have suited up for the Stars and Stripes in international basketball competitions. The Dream Team alone had American hoop icons like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird sacrifice their summer to represent the United States in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Through the years, many more have put on that navy blue jersey to compete for the country's pride and honor, whether in the Summer Games, the FIBA World Cup (formerly the FIBA World Championship), or other international tournaments. However, according to two-time Olympic gold medal winner Draymond Green , three players are the greatest Olympians in USA basketball history: Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James .
Commitment and excellence
NBA players go through a long 82-game season during which their physical and mental fortitudes are pushed to the hilt. Add to that the playoff grind, and it's easy to understand why players look forward to the offseason to get away from the sport and recharge their spirits. However, when it comes to representing their country in international competition, these three players have shown an unwavering commitment to not only playing but excelling on the court.
Despite already having three gold medals (2012, 2016, and 2020), Kevin Durant wants to add another to his trophy case, competing in the latest iteration of Team USA . Although he failed to participate in training camp and the five tuneup games, USA Basketball's all-time leading scorer and rebounder has not missed a beat, helping to anchor the squad's second unit in the Paris Olympics.
On the other hand, LeBron has two gold medals and was one of the lynchpins of the much-celebrated 2008 "Redeem Team" that brought the gold back to the U.S. after finishing with the bronze in the 2004 Athens Summer Games. Now 39, the ageless wonder continues to give Father Time a run for his money, playing incredible basketball in what many expect to be his last Olympic stint.
Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony , who has played in four Olympics (2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016), has won three gold medals and is known for his scoring prowess and leadership.
"KD and Bron, what they are doing from a statistical standpoint, if they win this gold medal, you have to ask yourself the question: are they the greatest Olympians from a basketball perspective in the history of Team USA?" Dray said on "The Draymond Green Show." "And the answer to that question is yes, they are, along with Carmelo Anthony."
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Olympic Melo
As superb as Carmelo is in the NBA, many view his performances in the Olympic Games as being on a different level altogether. In fact, he was given the nickname "Olympic Melo" due to his consistent dominance on the international stage.
The ten-time NBA All-Star's most memorable stint on Team USA was during the 2012 Olympics in London, when he averaged 16.3 points on a scintillating 53 percent shooting. His remarkable performance included a 37-point performance against Nigeria, the highest scoring mark in a single game by a USA player in Olympic history.
"People tend to forget fast what Melo did on Team USA. Bronze medal in Athens, gold, gold, gold. So Melo is 100% in that category along with KD, along with Bron," the former Defensive Player of the Year asserted.
Green concluded that even if, by any chance, Team USA doesn't come home with the gold medal in this Olympics, LeBron, KD, and Melo would remain on top of his list of best players to ever play for the national team.
"By the way, they don't have to close out the gold medal and they're still the greatest Olympian basketball players – those three that we've had in our program," Dray emphasized.
As Team USA enters the dangerous waters of the knockout stages of the Olympic basketball tournament, more will be asked of "The King" and the "Slim Reaper" to deliver on their superstar status and bring home the coveted gold medal.
Related: "A 10-point loss" - Draymond Green on who would win between the 2024 Team USA and 1992 Dream Team
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