Jayson Tatum is going back to the Olympics hoping to claim his second gold medal.
JT was one of 12 players named to the USA Basketball Men’s National Team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in a statement released by USA Basketball on Wednesday.
Along for another Olympics!
Let's go get another gold @Jrue_Holiday11 & @jaytatum0 🤝
🇺🇸 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/SxuFhu5rmx
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) April 17, 2024
The Bradley Beal Elite alum joins a team that is set to include LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis among others.
“It’s an honor,” JT said. “Something I’ve always wanted to do growing up. I’m excited about my second opportunity to play in the Olympics this summer.”
Jayson was also a member of the last U.S. Olympic Team in Men’s Basketball. Those “2020” Olympic games were played in the summer of 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out competition in 2020, and JT was the second leading scorer for a USA men’s team that went 5-1 en route to their fourth consecutive gold medal. He finished the six-game run averaging 15.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Back in the stars and stripes 🇺🇸
Congrats JT on being named to the 2024 @usabasketball Men's National Team pic.twitter.com/gFLrH7uZJC
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 17, 2024
During the last Olympic Games, JT wore Number 10, and he plans to wear it again in Paris. It is the same number worn in the Olympics by the late Kobe Bryant, and Jayson has worn it at every level of USA Basketball as a tribute to Bryant, who he long idolized.
“It’s extremely special,” Tatum said. “I played on three USA teams when I was in high school. I got to wear No. 10 all three of those years, knowing that my favorite player wore No. 10 for the national team. I played on the FIBA World Cup team in ’19 and had No. 10, and in 2021 I had No. 10 on that team. It’s something I don’t take for granted or lightly. I know what comes with wearing that number.”
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 are set to begin July 26 and run through August 11. Team USA will compete in Group C and open the Olympics against Serbia on July 28 in Lille, France. They will then play South Sudan on July 31. The final team in their pool and their opponent to close group play on August 3 will be determined in the upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. Should the U.S. Men’s National Team advance beyond group play, they will play the knockout and medal rounds in Paris during the second week of August.
