The 2024 Paris Olympics saw yet another gold medal for the men’s Team USA basketball team. Team USA captured their fifth consecutive gold medal and will eventually seek their sixth consecutive four years from now.
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The Olympics will return to the United States for the first time since 1996, and Los Angeles will be the host city. Although the United States will be at the forefront, the same goal will be in mind for the men’s basketball team.
A lot of players will be vying for a spot on the team, especially considering LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant most likely won’t participate. The competition will be at an all-time high, and one player hoping to get a spot is Washington Wizards star forward Kyle Kuzma.
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Kuzma shared his admiration for wanting to play for Team USA in 2028.
“Playing for the United States team is my number one goal, especially at the Olympic Games,” said Kuzma. “I had the opportunity to play for them in 2019 before breaking my foot, but that dream is still very much alive. It’s the best of the best, and sometimes even political. But I will keep working hard, and hopefully, I will have the opportunity to represent my country.”
Kuzma was set to play for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup but suffered a left ankle injury that prevented him from participating. Nine years later, he hopes to finally have a chance to represent his country.
While Kuzma is considering a spot on Team USA, he isn’t ruling out a chance to play for the Philippines team.
“You know, my number one goal is to play with the United States team in the Olympic Games, 100% in four years. But I could play with JC (Jordan Clarkson, on the Philippines team). I mean, if I didn’t play for the United States team. That would be great. I think it’s really cool that other players go to other places to play because it is very, very difficult to play for the United States team.”
Kuzma will soon enter his eighth season in the NBA and his fourth with the Wizards. He has panned out a solid career for himself, averaging 17.3 points per game, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 33.7 percent.
The 29-year-old will be 33 years old by the time the Olympic Games commence in Los Angeles in 2024.
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