SALT LAKE CITY — As preparation for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo begins around the world, USA Basketball released Monday a preliminary list of players it will consider for the 12-man men’s basketball roster, and a number of players with local ties are on the list.
Most notably, Utah Jazz guards Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley are among the 44 players listed. Former Weber State star Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers) and former Utah standout Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers) are also listed.
Former Jazz forward Gordon Hayward is also on the list.
The roster will be announced sometime in the summer (the Olympics will go from July 24-Aug. 9), but Mitchell could have an inside track at a roster spot after being on Team USA at the FIBA World Cup in China last year. Kuzma was the final player cut before the tournament after he sustained an injury, while Lillard was among many players who removed themselves from roster consideration.
Team USA will be aiming for its fourth straight Olympic gold medal. It will be one of 12 teams vying for the prize. Eight nations have already qualified, including Australia and France, of which Jazzmen Joe Ingles (Australia) and Rudy Gobert (France) are key pieces.
Bojan Bogdanovic and Croatia will compete in one of four qualifying tournaments later this year as 24 nations will vie for the final four Olympic berths.