The 2024 Summer Olympics ended Sunday night, with the United States winning 126 medals this was the most of the Olympics. Of those, 40 were gold, tying the U.S. with China. Coming into the games, the U.S. basketball teams were expected to dominate. Despite the men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams winning gold medals, both looked shaky, needing heroic efforts to propel them.<\/p>\n
The United States also competed in the three-on-three games. The event, which debuted during the 2020 Olympics (held in 2021), saw the women\u2019s second time in the event while the men debuted. The 2021 women\u2019s team, led by WNBA stars Stefanie Dolson<\/a>, Allisha Gray<\/a>, Kelsey Plum<\/a>, and Jackie Young<\/a>, took home the event\u2019s first Olympic gold. The men\u2019s debut squad didn’t qualify for the competition.<\/p>\n Both teams struggled in this year’s games. The women\u2019s team won a medal but was a disappointing bronze. The men\u2019s team didn\u2019t even get out of the preliminary stages, finishing 2-5. With such disappointing results, fans and players alike question whether NBA players will be included in the 2028 games in Los Angeles; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green<\/a> believes they should be, explicitly mentioning Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren<\/a> as a potential Team USA member.<\/p>\n What exactly did Green say, and is he right? Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n On his podcast<\/a>, Green questioned why NBA players weren\u2019t part of the three-on-three Olympic team:<\/p>\n “Why aren\u2019t young NBA players on the 3-on-3 team? Guys that either haven\u2019t gotten an opportunity to play on the national team yet or may never get the chance. Naz Reid<\/a>, Jalen Green<\/a>, and big Jalen Duren\u2014this is about building a resume. I think Duren\u2019s on his way to being a superstar, and he\u2019ll probably be on the next Team USA. Tyrese Maxey<\/a>, imagine Maxey getting his first gold medal in that setting. In 2021, I watched Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young win gold in the 3-on-3. So, this isn\u2019t going to be their first national team gold, but they can already say, \u2018I\u2019m an Olympic gold medalist.\u2019 It\u2019s special. I can\u2019t understand how that 3-on-3 team was the one we ended up with. I\u2019m baffled.”<\/p>\n Draymond Green<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Green raises a valid point. Integrating young NBA players into the three-on-three team could help build the talent pool for future Team USA rosters. Gaining Olympic experience early might boost their chances of success on the traditional team. However, the players selected for this year\u2019s team were not without merit.<\/p>\n Canyon Barry<\/a> was part of the U.S. team that won the 3×3 World Cup in 2019 and 2022. Kareem Maddox<\/a> was also on those teams, leading all players in blocked shots (four) and rebounds (20) in 2019. Dylan Travis<\/a>, making his debut in the 2022 World Cup, was an NCAA Division II national champion at Florida Southern. Jimmer Fredette<\/a> led all players in the World Cup, scoring 59 points. Given their past success and experience, it\u2019s understandable why these players were chosen for the Olympic team.<\/p>\n Duren was part of the select team that helped Team USA prepare for international competition this summer. Looking ahead to 2028, Duren is a strong candidate for the national team. At just 20 years old, he already possesses the physical tools to become one of the league\u2019s most dominant centers. His aggressive approach on both the offensive and defensive boards and his athleticism around the paint are precisely the traits Team USA will seek in the future.<\/p>\n In his two seasons with the Pistons, Duren has shown flashes of his immense potential. He\u2019s averaging 11.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 63% shooting and 70% from the free-throw line. If he can develop a reliable go-to move in the post, build on the confidence from his summer workouts, and expand his shooting range, Duren could be a crucial piece in the Pistons\u2019 resurgence.<\/p>\nFour-Time NBA Champion: Pistons Big Deserved Olympic Spot<\/h2>\n
Green’s Take On Duren And Others Playing On Team USA<\/h3>\n
Making The Argument For Duren On Team USA<\/h3>\n