
(UPDATE 6/23/16):
Carmelo Anthony has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics with Team USA, according to Adrian Wojnaroski of The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports.
Carmelo Anthony has committed to chasing his third Olympic gold medal for Team USA this summer in Rio, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 23, 2016
(Original story from 5/18/16)
Carmelo Anthony has been making it known that he’s looking forward to playing for Team USA in the 2016 Olympics, saying that the experience of winning again after a rough couple of seasons with the Knicks has him excited about another experience to play in the Olympics.
Although recently, Anthony has been admittedly undecided about playing, and for different reasons.
The latest from Anthony suggests that he fully plans on participating, via the Associated Press:
“Listen, I’ve been with USA Basketball since I was 16, 17 years old,” he said. “Can’t stop now.”
Anthony’s last two stints with Team USA resulted in gold medals in 2008 and 2012. His successful tenure with USA Basketball likely earns him an automatic bid on the final 12-man roster, being one of the seasoned veterans who is also still able to compete at a high level. For Carmelo, who will turn 32 years old before Rio, this would obviously be his last go round with USA Basketball.
The other veterans on the roster are still up in the air. Chris Paul won’t be playing due to injuries, and LeBron James likely won’t make an official decision participate in his fourth straight Olympics until after the postseason has concluded. Anthony could pan out as the sole veteran leader of this group for Team USA.