Chet Holmgren named to USA Basketball player pool for 2024 Paris Olympics
Chet Holmgren is among the 41 players USA Basketball will consider for its 12-man roster that will compete in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The former Gonzaga men's basketball standout and current Oklahoma City Thunder rookie was the second-youngest player selected to the pool behind Paolo Banchero, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. Banchero, a 21-year-old Seattle native, was picked No. 1 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, one spot ahead of Holmgren.
Should Holmgren parlay a strong rookie campaign with a spot on Team USA next summer, he'd be reunited with his former Gonzaga coach, Mark Few. Team USA's head coach is Steve Kerr, with Few, Erik Spoelstra and Ty Lue serving as his assistants.
Holmgren will compete for a roster spot against some of the NBA's most prolific forwards and centers. The Philadelphia 76ers' reigning league MVP Joel Embiid headlines the group of bigs that also features Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat. FIBA World Cup team members Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler were also selected to the pool to potentially remedy Team USA's fourth-place finish at the World Cup last summer.
Holmgren was on the select team that was put together to help prepare that Team USA squad, though the 7-foot-1 forward's most notable international experience came when he was on the 2021 FIBA U-19 World Cup team. Holmgren was named the MVP of the event as he helped Team USA beat France, led by Victor Wembanyama, for the gold medal. The Minnesota native averaged 11.9 points, a team-high 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.7 blocks.
Holmgren and Wembanyama are now the frontrunners to win the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year Award as two potential All-Star players. Holmgren is averaging 17.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 blocks for OKC (29-13).
