Carmelo Anthony Will Go After A Third Gold Medal At The Rio Olympics

Olympics Day 16 - Basketball
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At the Rio Olympics this August, the USA men’s basketball team is going to look very different from the one that won the gold medal in London in 2012. In particular, most of the holdovers from the 2008 Bejing gold medal group who would have still been in consideration are out. LeBron James said this week that he’s leaning toward skipping it. Chris Paul pulled his name out of the running a while ago. That leaves Carmelo Anthony as the only player who will make a run at a third career gold, according to The Vertical‘s Adrian Wojnarowski:

Out of the veterans who could have played, Anthony has the most reason to go to Rio. James just won his third title and could stand to take some time off after six straight Finals appearances. Paul couldn’t play even if he wanted to, as he’s recovering from a broken hand suffered in the playoffs. Anthony hasn’t been to the playoffs in three years, and the Knicks are still a ways away from contending for a title, which probably won’t happen during his prime.

Unless he agrees to waive his no-trade clause to be traded to a contender (and all indications are he wants to stay in New York), a third gold medal is the closest Anthony will get to competing for a championship. He’s likely already a Hall of Famer, but a third gold would seal it.

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