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The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games takes place on Friday, with most of the action starting early next week. Swimming, track, and basketball are the big draws as the world turns their attention to Paris, France for the next few weeks.
Team USA is the wide favorite to take home the gold medal in both men’s and women’s basketball, although plenty of extremely talented basketball stars will be present throughout the games – many who played college basketball right here in the states.
The Duke Blue Devils are well represented with five basketball alumni set to represent their country for the next few weeks – as well as an incoming freshman for the men’s team who is on the roster for South Sudan.
Below is a look at all six Duke participants on the basketball side, starting with a recent NBA champion representing the United States:
Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Current: Boston Celtics
Duke: 2016-17
Tatum is fresh off leading the Celtics to their record-breaking 18th NBA championship, and his role will be a critical one for Team USA. The amount of talent on the US roster is undeniable, but Tatum’s size, scoring ability, and positional versatility should see him on the floor plenty as the squad looks to bring home the Gold.
Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Current: Toronto Raptors
Duke: 2018-19
Barrett has averaged 19.9 points in his last 201 NBA games dating back to 2021, and while he’s not the superstar many thought he’d be when he was picked third overall in 2019 he has proven more than capable of being a high level scorer.
Canada will certainly need his shooting and scoring ability on the wing, and alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray he is a huge part of this countries quest for a medal in Paris.
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Current: Incoming freshman at Duke
Duke: (2024-25)
It’s extremely rare to see an Olympian who has not yet set foot on a college campus, but that’s what makes incoming Duke freshman Khaman Maluach so special. The 7’2 anchor projects to be an elite rim protector and low post scorer, and getting a chance to compete against some of the best athletes in the world will sharpen his game ahead of his first (and likely only) season in Durham.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Current: Las Vegas Aces
Duke: 2010-2014
Gray is one of many talented point guards representing the United States, alongside Sabrina Ionescu and Kelsey Plum. Gray is a ten year WNBA vet who has six All-Star games and three All-WNBA nominations under her belt, and she will be an important part of Team USA’s path to medaling this year.
(Photo by Luciano Lima/Getty Images)
Current: Bembibre (Spain)
Duke: 2021-2023
Balogun spent five years in the ACC at three different programs, starting at Georgia Tech before spending two years at Louisville and her final two seasons at Duke.
As a super senior she averaged 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds, and her proficient outside shooting and strong defense will be a big help to a Nigerian team hoping to secure a medal in Paris.
(Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)
Current: Puerto Rico FIBA
Duke: 2017-2019
Roma played 36 games at Duke across two seasons as a transfer from Wagner, and since then she has been a part of Puerto Rico’s FIBA and Olympic squads. She’ll look to use her size and rebounding skills to help Puerto Rico compete for a medal in Paris.
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Courtesy : https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/lists/duke-basketball-olympic-games-team-usa/