Draymond Green urges 76ers star to lead failing Team USA ship

Team USA is poised to win gold in the Men's Basketball tournament. They have been a very dominant club on both ends of the court so far, with no opposing team even taking them to a single-digit affair. No offense to various powerhouses around the globe, but with their overwhelming talent, the Americans will likely end their Paris stint with an immaculate record.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been represented by Joel Embiid at the 2024 Summer Olympics, and while he's been struggling before a hostile crowd, the team has been a massive success. That, however, isn't so much the case with the country's lesser-known offering in 3x3 basketball as USA bowed out of the competition with a meager 2-5 record.

76ers star urged by Draymond Green to help anchor 3x3 basketball for USA

USA trotted out a four-man lineup for 3x3 basketball in Paris which consisted of Jimmer Fredette, Canyon Barry, Dylan Travis, and Kareem Maddox. Of those four, only Fredette has seen NBA action, and he famously failed to notch a consistent footing in the league. Clearly, there has been no nBA-level talent in the discipline.

Draymond Green wants that changed. In a recent episode of his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, the four-time NBA champion wondered why younger NBA stars aren't included in the pool for the 3x3 discipline.

Why are not young NBA players on the 3x3 team?… Naz Reid would destroy them, dudes… Jalen Green, you got like a big Jalen Duren. A fourth… I think he’s on his way to being a superstar… Tyrese Maxey.

Green distinguished 76ers star Tyrese Maxey as a potential anchor for 3x3 basketball for Team USA. While the rules are quite different on that side, the fundamental skills needed are exactly the same, and the NBA's Most Improved Player last season should be plenty capable of leading the country and clinching a medal.

For that to be possible, though, the NBA has to find a way to reconcile its schedule and FIBA's ranking points to qualify for the event. That has been the main reason why the country has not paraded NBA players since its inception in the mainstream.