LeBron James heads star-studded USA team to play in Abu Dhabi ahead of Paris Olympics

LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid … those are just a handful of the stars that have been named on this summer’s USA Basketball Men’s National Team announced on Wednesday and all of them will be coming to Abu Dhabi to compete in two friendly games ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

A 12-man box-office roster that also includes Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo, and Jrue Holiday, will take on Australia on July 15 and Serbia on July 17 at Yas Island’s Etihad Arena in what will be a crucial part of Team USA’s preparation for their Olympic title defence.

It will be the Americans’ second visit to the UAE capital having held a training camp and contested exhibition games in Abu Dhabi ahead of their 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign last summer, albeit with a different group of players, except for Haliburton and Edwards, who have retained their spots on the national squad.

Grant Hill, the managing director of the US National Team, said they were all “blown away” by their experience in the Emirates last year and jumped at the chance to come back this summer.

“We had such a blast there last year. We had such a good time,” Hill told The National during a Zoom call with members of the press on Wednesday following the squad announcement.

“They were so hospitable. The venue, the accommodations, but just the energy and the spirit there was so much fun. Even when it was really hot, we still managed to have a great time.

“Some great sights, we got a chance to see and experience culture, go out to the desert, go to Dubai, visit the mosque.”

“So yeah, the opportunity presented itself and I know all of us from a leadership standpoint, the coaching staff,