Kevin Durant aims for a historic fourth gold in the Paris 2024 Olympics, while LeBron James returns for a 20-year career milestone.
The United States has been a powerhouse in Olympic basketball since the sport was officially added in 1936.
LeBron James
| Team: | Los Angeles Lakers USA |
| Position: | SF |
| Age: | 39 |
| Height: | 203 cm |
| Weight: | 113 kg |
| Birth place: | Akron, United States of America |
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The U.S. men's basketball team has bagged 16 out of 20 possible gold medals, including the last four, and has medaled in every Olympics except for 1980, which they boycotted. This record brings their medal count to 19, the highest in Olympic history.
Team USA will once again showcase some of the best players in basketball history as they aim for a fifth consecutive gold medal at the Olympic Basketball Tournament in Paris this summer.
Among these talents is Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant, who, at 35, is chasing some Team USA records.
Carmelo Anthony currently holds the title of the winningest male Olympic basketball player ever, with more gold medals than any other player and more than any country except the U.S.
Melo, the only four-time Olympian in U.S. men's basketball, snagged gold in 2008, 2012, and 2016 and took home a bronze in 2004 after his rookie NBA season.
However, this could soon change. Durant is set to compete for his fourth straight gold medal with Team USA in Paris. If they win, KD will surpass Anthony as the leader in gold medals for men's basketball.
Even if Team USA just reaches the podium, Durant will tie Anthony's record for overall medals in the sport.
Credit FIBA
Durant is in solid company with three Olympic medals, alongside David Robinson and LeBron James.
James is making a comeback to Olympic competition eight years after winning gold at Rio 2016. The four-time NBA champ also won gold in London 2012 and bronze in Athens 2004.
This summer, LeBron, WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, and Spain's Rudy Fernandez are set to become the first basketball players to have Olympic careers spanning 20 years.
Then, 18 Team USA players have two Olympic medals, mostly golds (16 of them). The only active player among them is Draymond Green, who won gold in 2016 and 2020.
Leaders in medals and games
| No. | Player | Games played | Gold medals | Silver medals | Bronze medals | Total medals |
| 1. | Carmelo Anthony | 31 | 3 (2008, 2012, 2016) | - | 1 (2004) | 4 |
| 2. | Kevin Durant | 24 | 3 (2012, 2016, 2020) | - | - | 3 |
| 3. | David Robinson | 24 | 2 (1992, 1996) | - | 1 (1988) | 3 |
| 4. | LeBron James | 24 | 2 (2008, 2012) | - | 1 (2004) | 3 |
What's interesting is that Durant improved on another of Anthony's records during the previous Olympics in Tokyo.
Durant, who led the U.S. in points per game for the last three Olympics, broke Melo's career Olympic points record for an American man in Japan's capital. Durant now has 435 points, just 54 points shy of Lisa Leslie's U.S. Olympic points record for both women and men.
Durant scored 156 points at the London Olympics in 2012, 155 points at the Rio Olympics in 2016, and added another 124 points in Tokyo, bringing his career points tally for Team USA to 435.
All-time Team USA scorers
| No. | Player | Total points | Points average | Olympics played |
| 1. | Kevin Durant | 435 | 19.7 | 2012, 2016, 2020 |
| 2. | Carmelo Anthony | 336 | 10.8 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
| 3. | LeBron James | 273 | 11.4 | 2004, 2008, 2012 |
| 4. | David Robinson | 270 | 11.3 | 1988, 1992, 1996 |
| 5. | Michael Jordan | 256 | 16.0 | 1984, 1992 |
| 6. | Charles Barkley | 231 | 15.4 | 1992, 1996 |
| 7. | Chris Mullin | 196 | 12.3 | 1984, 1992 |
| 8. | Dwyane Wade | 186 | 11.6 | 2004, 2008 |
| 9. | Karl Malone | 171 | 10.7 | 1992, 1996 |
| 10. | Scottie Pippen | 170 | 10.6 | 1992, 1996 |
KD's performance in the Olympic finals is just legendary: 30 points against Spain in London 2012, 30 against Serbia in Rio 2016, and 29 against France in Tokyo 2020. That's an average of 29.7 points per Olympic final.
Overall, Durant averages 19.7 points per game, the highest for any Team USA player.
He also leads the men's team in field goals made (146), field goals attempted (276), 3-pointers (74), and free throws (69).
Meanwhile, the now-retired Anthony scored 336 points for Team USA, holding the single-game scoring record with 37 points against Nigeria in the 2012 Olympics in London.
Most points in a single game
| No. | Player | Points | Opponent | Year |
| 1. | Carmelo Anthony | 37 | Nigeria | 2012 |
| 2-3. | Carmelo Anthony | 31 | Australia | 2016 |
| 2-3. | Stephon Marbury | 31 | Spain | 2004 |
| 4-8. | Kevin Durant | 30 | Serbia | 2016 |
| 4-8. | Klay Thompson | 30 | France | 2016 |
| 4-8. | Kevin Durant | 30 | Spain | 2012 |
| 4-8. | Charles Barkley | 30 | Brazil | 1992 |
| 4-8. | Adrian Dantley | 30 | Yugoslavia | 1976 |
Anthony also holds the records for most games played (31) and most rebounds (125) for the U.S. men's team.
LeBron is the team's all-time assists leader with 88. Robinson leads in blocks with 34, and Michael Jordan tops the list in steals with 49.
Other Olympic records for Team USA
Most assists in a single game
| No. | Player | Assists | Opponent | Year |
| 1-4. | Kyrie Irving | 12 | France | 2016 |
| 1-4. | Michael Jordan | 12 | Germany | 1992 |
| 1-4. | Leon Wood | 12 | Spain | 1984 |
| 1-4. | Phil Ford | 12 | Yugoslavia | 1976 |
| 5-6. | LeBron James | 11 | Australia | 2012 |
| 5-6. | Deron Williams | 11 | Nigeria | 2012 |
Most rebounds in a single game
| No. | Player | Rebounds | Opponent | Year |
| 1-3. | DeAndre Jordan | 16 | Spain | 2016 |
| 1-3. | Tim Duncan | 16 | Puerto Rico | 2004 |
| 1-3. | Jim Brewer | 16 | Australia | 1972 |
| 4. | DeMarcus Cousins | 15 | Serbia | 2016 |
| 5-7. | LeBron James | 14 | Australia | 2012 |
| 5-7. | Kevin Garnett | 14 | Lithuania | 2000 |
| 5-7. | Tom McMillen | 14 | Egypt | 1972 |
Most steals in a single game
| No. | Player | Steals | Opponent | Year |
| 1-2. | Michael Jordan | 8 | Croatia | 1992 |
| 1-2. | Michael Jordan | 8 | Angola | 1992 |
| 3-5. | Dwyane Wade | 6 | Greece | 2008 |
| 3-5. | Michael Jordan | 6 | Lithuania | 1992 |
| 3-5. | Alvin Robertson | 6 | China | 1984 |
Most blocks in a single game
| No. | Player | Blocks | Opponent | Year |
| 1-2. | Alonzo Mourning | 6 | Italy | 2000 |
| 1-2. | Patrick Ewing | 6 | Canada | 1984 |
| 3-4. | Patrick Ewing | 5 | Spain | 1992 |
| 3-4. | David Robinson | 5 | Canada | 1988 |
| 5-6. | DeAndre Jordan | 4 | Spain | 2016 |
| 5-6. | David Robinson | 4 | Spain | 1988 |
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