All eyes will be on the Team USA minicamp on August 2013 as top players Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and even LeBron James want to join.
The basketball event in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will shine with strong star power as marquee players from Team USA show intention to join.
Dwight Howard, All-Star Center from the Houston Rockets was reportedly keen on joining the team and will even attend the minicamp that is "required" for all players who want a shot. The report came from ESPN, citing sources.
Also mentioned to be interested in an Olympic trip is LA Clippers point guard, Chris Paul. "CP3" was a member of the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London gold medal teams.
Meanwhile, in a Sirius XM Radio interview, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo mentioned that LeBron James might return for another tour of duty (transcribed by CBS):
"I think LeBron wants to be part of it," he said. "You know, when you talk about LeBron, Dwyane Wade, Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo [Anthony], they were the four young players who were, what, 19 years old, 20 at the best, who were added to the roster when some people dropped out at the last minute."
Colangelo, has repeatedly said that the August 11-13 minicamp in UNLV is "mandatory" for all players who wish to join. Howard and Paul have already confirmed their attendance along with other stars like Carmelo Anthony, Paul's teammate Blake Griffin as well as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It should be noted that Dwight Howard begged off the 2012 Summer Olympics squad because of back surgery. It was a controversial summer for Dwight as he forced himself out of the Orlando Magic and was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
For Chris Paul, this could be his third straight Olympic appearance but he will be met with stiff competition from new young point guards like Kyrie Irving and NBA 2015 MVP Stephen Curry.