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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton played a lot of basketball last summer as part of the team USA Basketball sent to the Philippines for the World Cup.
And he wants to play a lot of basketball this summer too.
Haliburton didn’t hesitate when asked Saturday if he expected to be part of the team that sends the U.S. men to this summer’s Paris Olympics, where they will seek their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Simply put, the Indiana Pacers star guard will go if they ask.
“My goal is to play for the United States until the wheels fall off,” Haliburton said. “If I get a call to go, I’ll be there.”
So is Anthony Davis. The Los Angeles Lakers forward made it clear Saturday at media day leading up to Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game that he would play if his country asked him to. Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, who is aiming for his fourth gold medal, announced that he will participate as well as Miami’s Bam Adebayo. LeBron James has said he wants to play, and Stephen Curry may finally decide to play in his first Olympics.
USA Basketball has not yet announced a formal invitation. Even if the team were announced now, things would certainly have changed by the time training camp begins in July due to injuries and players dropping out after a grueling playoff run.
lebron watch
LeBron James did not attend All-Star practice or meet with the media on Saturday. He is scheduled to hold a pregame press conference on Sunday and then appear in the game.
This is James’ 20th All-Star Game appearance, which ties him with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time selection. James had a record 19th appearance last year, as Abdul-Jabbar missed one All-Star Game despite being selected.
James also holds All-Star records for minutes played, points, field goals made, field goals made, and 3-pointers made. He ranks third in All-Star assists, sixth in rebounds, and eighth in steals, trailing Larry Bird (1 in 23), Jason Kidd (2 in 24), and Chris Paul (3 in 26). The book is widespread.
durant climbing
Phoenix’s Kevin Durant ranks fifth in All-Star Game scoring with 250 points. He’s expected to move up one or two, maybe three spots on Sunday.
James has 426 points, Kobe Bryant has 290 points, Michael Jordan is third with 262 points, and Abdul-Jabbar is fourth with 251 points.
Durant will appear in a game on Sunday for the first time since 2019. He missed the 2020 season due to an Achilles injury and was selected to the All-Star Game, but missed playing in 2021 (hamstring), 2022 (knee), and 2023 (knee).
He averaged 25 points in 10 games.
movie time
Saturday was Premiere Day for two of the NBA’s premier players.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis both hosted the movie premiere. For Antetokounmpo, it was “Giannis: The Marvelous Journey.” The film chronicles the rise of a man who discovered basketball in an internet cafe in Athens, Greece and went on to become one of the game’s greatest players.
“I hope this work touches as many people as possible and inspires them in the best possible way,” Antetokounmpo said. “But for me, when I’m doing something like that, I try to be myself. I’m not trying to be inspirational. I just try to be myself. As authentic as possible. I understand that I have a platform that allows me to do that and I have to be a role model for many people around the world who look up to me. .”
Davis is an executive producer on a film called “Finding Tony,” which premiered in Indianapolis on Saturday. This work tells the story of a former NBA player who suffered from depression and alcoholism, who later becomes the coach of a women’s team at an elementary school, helping the team while helping himself.
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APNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
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