Ahead of the NBA Paris Game 2024, the four-time NBA All-Star made clear his ambition to compete at the Paris Olympics for USA Basketball: “We’ve got to go out there and defend our gold”.
(2022 Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavalier Donovan Mitchell is ready to commit to Team USA for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In France's City of Light for the NBA Paris Game 2024 where the Cavs take on the Brooklyn Nets in a regular season matchup, the 27-year-old four-time NBA All-Star reiterated his hopes to return to compete for USA Basketball the Olympics later this year:
“That’s the goal,” Mitchell told media on Wednesday. “That’s the goal: come back here and be here this summer for sure.”
The Cavs star was on the list of 'finalists' for selection to the US Olympic Men’s Basketball team for Tokyo 2020, in 2021, but was ultimately not a part of the group that claimed gold in Japan.
He had previously represented USA at the 2019 FIBA World Cup where the team recorded their worst-ever finish at the global showpiece, concluding the tournament in seventh place.
“It means the world to play for Team USA. You know, to be able to be a part of that, to represent your country.
“The memory I have is losing; we lost. We lost to France and Serbia, so I would love to find a way to bounce back and get the gold."
Just as with the Tokyo campaign, USA will be on another redemption mission come Paris having once again missed out on the medals at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Under Coach Steve Kerr, the Americans were defeated by Germany in the semi-finals before, being beaten to bronze by Canada in the third-place play-off.
With rumours swirling that LeBron James is assembling a crop of NBA stars to restore USA Basketball’s image and defend their Olympic gold in Paris, the speculation surrounding the team is already high.
But even with the highest calibre of player on board, there is a feeling the task for the US at the Games won’t be so simple. Mitchell highlighted the challenge but also his, and Team USA’s willingness, to embrace it:
“You’ve got Spain, Serbia, you’ve got Canada really playing well, you know, so it's going to be tough. It's not going to be easy. But you know I think we're up for the challenge. We’ve got to go out there and defend our gold.”