Paul George reveals he thought he would be apart of Team USA in 2024 Olympics

Paul George reveals he thought he would be apart of Team USA in 2024 Olympics

The last time Paul George participated in the Olympics was in 2016, nearly two years after suffering a gruesome tibia-fibula fracture ahead of the 2015 FIBA World Cup during an intrasquad scrimmage in 2014.

George thought that chance–perhaps his last–would come again in 2024. Though the Philadelphia 76ers’ star forward revealed this week why he isn’t a part of the team.

“[Team USA head coach Steve Kerr], after we played the Warriors in LA, came to me like, ‘You got any interest in being on Team USA?’” George said on 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony, arguably the greatest Team USA player ever. “Yeah, I want to play, so I’m thinking I’m in. I think I’m a part of that group. I’m seeing it on the ground; they get the jersey, they get the jersey. I’m like, ‘Where’s my post? When are they going to hit me (up)?’ It just so happened I ran into Grant Hill, I think during the playoffs in Dallas. ‘Yeah man, didn’t happen this year.’

“I understood it. Obviously, I ain’t going to be sour about it, but at the same time, it was like, damn, I was looking forward to representing the USA and being a part of that team.”

There was already one injury replacement: Boston Celtics guard Derrick White replaced Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, George’s former teammate, with the latter dealing with knee inflammation.

Perhaps George would’ve been one of the candidates to get the call if, say, Kevin Durant–recovering from a calf injury–needed to get replaced. Others who could’ve been candidates would likely be reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges or Donovan Mitchell, among several others.

Grant Hill explains why USA chose Derrick White to replace Kawhi Leonard ahead of 2024 Olympics

George, 34, averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 19.0 minutes on 45.7 percent shooting and 56.8 percent true shooting in the 2016 Olympics. The nine-time All-Star helped lead Team USA to their third consecutive Gold Medal, finishing third in the tournament in total steals (12) and offensive rebounds (17).

Team USA is 2-0 in Group C with wins against Serbia (26-point win) and South Sudan (17), having already clinched a spot in the eight-team knockout stage. They will have a chance to sweep their group on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 11:15 a.m. EST against Puerto Rico, who’s 0-2 with a minus-52 point differential through two games.

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