DURHAM, N.C. – Former Duke star Jayson Tatum has been selected to his second straight U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team, as USA Basketball unveiled its 12-man roster for the upcoming Summer Games in Paris, France.
Tatum joins a U.S. squad that is seeking its fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. The five-time NBA All-Star as a member of the Boston Celtics has competed with Team USA at several international events, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 2019 FIBA World Cup, 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship, 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship and 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.
In the Tokyo Games, Tatum played six games and averaged 20.5 minutes, 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per contest, while shooting 49.3% from the field and 44.7% from 3-point range.
Tatum is one of 15 former Blue Devils to represent his country in men’s basketball at the Olympics, including former head coach Mike Krzyzewski‘s four stints on the USA coaching staff, and the seventh Duke player to suit up for Team USA, joining Jeff Mullins (1964), Tate Armstrong (1974), Christian Laettner (1992), Grant Hill (1996), Carlos Boozer (2004 and 2008) and Kyrie Irving (2016). Duke has had a former player compete in the Olympics in each of the last nine Summer Games.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Tatum averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 2016-17, his lone season at Duke, before being selected third overall by Boston in the 2017 NBA Draft. In 513 career NBA regular-season games, he has posted averages of 23.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He is a three-time All-NBA selection, earning First Team honors twice (2022, 23) and Third Team recognition in 2020. Tatum has also been named to the All-Rookie team in 2018, voted an NBA All-Star in five straight seasons, including an All-Star MVP recognition in 2023, and was voted Eastern Conference Finals MVP in 2022.
Tatum led the Celtics in both scoring and rebounding during the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 26.9 points and 8.1 boards, while helping lead the Boston squad to the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 overall record, setting the pace for winning percentage across the entire league.
The upcoming Summer Games will see the United States go for a fifth consecutive gold medal after striking gold for the 16th overall time during the 2020 games.
This summer’s team was selected by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill and approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.
The Paris Summer Olympic Games are set for July 26-Aug. 11. Men’s basketball group play begins on July 27 and runs through Aug. 4, with the quarterfinals scheduled for Aug. 6, semifinals on Aug. 8, and both medal games on Aug. 10.
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