Chirs Paul, 34-year-old, 10-time-NBA-All-Star point guard of the Oklahoma City Thunder /VCG
NBC Sports had some good news for the U.S. Basketball Men's National Team. 10-time NBA All-Star point guard Chris Paul said he's willing to play for Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
"I'm excited about the opportunity. My wife is sort of calling the shots on this one. She said she wants to go to Tokyo. I've been blessed and fortunate to play in 2008. I had no kids then. In 2012, my wife couldn't come, because, four days after the gold medal game, she had my daughter," said Paul.
Usually players "cannot" attend certain events for "personal reason" but Paul this time seemed to make an opposite case.
Chris Paul of Team USA shows the two Olympic gold medals has has won after men's basketball final of the Summer Olympics at at the North Greenwich Arena in London, England, August 12, 2012. /VCG
Paul participated in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics and helped Team USA win gold medals at in both basketball competitions.
In February, USA Basketball released a 44-man list for Team USA selection. Considering the big names for point guards – Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Kemba Walker – on the list, Paul's chance of being selected does not seem very good.
However, that may not be necessarily true, because Team USA must be the best team, not simply the best players. The NBA has more than enough stars but what it takes to help these stars play like a team, especially in very limited time, is an experienced, well-connected orchestrator, a role that Paul could easily handle.
Chris Paul #3 pf the Oklahoma Coty Thunder dribbles between his legs in the game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chciago, Illinois, February 25, 2020. /VCG
Though he's already 34 years old, Paul is having one of the best seasons in his career at OKC. Having played a career-low 31.7 minutes per game, he averaged 17.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists. Under his leadership, OKC are currently ranking sixth in the Western Conference with a 36-22 record, only 0.5 game from fifth Utah Jazz.
Jerry Colangelo, managing director of Team USA, previously said that those who have played for the team will enjoy preference in the selection. If Paul can make it, he will become the third-oldest member in national team history after Larry Bird in 1992 and Jason Kidd in 2008.