Houston Rockets guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook each expressed interest Friday about playing on the United States Men’s Basketball Team during next summer’s 2020 Olympics.
“That’s one of my goals to represent the USA and represent this beautiful country in the games,” said Harden, who spoke at Friday’s annual Rockets Media Day in Houston before Saturday’s opening of training camp.
Harden and Westbrook, each now 30 years old, won a gold medal together at the 2012 Olympics before each withdrew from consideration on the same day for the 2016 squad.
Both players will be 34 years old in the summer of 2024, which might make them reluctant at that age to put their bodies through that type of workload during an NBA offseason.
Thus, 2020 could be their last realistic opportunity. And assuming health, it appears the two Houston stars could potentially embark upon the journey together.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry is among the other star NBA guards to have already expressed interest in next year’s team, which could have a very high bar for its roster spots.
Harden averaged a career high 36.1 points per game last season with the Rockets, along with 7.5 assists and 6.6 rebounds. Meanwhile, Westbrook posted his third straight season with a triple-double average (22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 10.7 assists) on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Beyond last season, they were the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award winners in 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The two will team up this season in Houston for the first time since the aforementioned 2012 Olympics and Harden’s first three NBA seasons from 2009 through 2012 in Oklahoma City.
