This summer, some of the best NBA players in the world will be embarking on a journey to Tokyo, Japan for a chance to represent their country in the Olympic games. The United States is a powerhouse when it comes to international basketball and with some of the best players participating, the US is expected to win it all. Yesterday, Team USA announced the 44 finalists for its 12-man roster. Of course, this list included players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard.
One of the names excluded from the list was none other than Atlanta Hawks sophomore, Trae Young. When asked about the snub, Young was very honest about his feelings. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt by seeing it," Young said Monday Sarah K. Spencer. "Obviously I would have wanted to play on the team."
Young's answer was pretty mature although it's clear he's upset about not making it to the finalist's spot. Young is better than quite a few of the players who made the list so it's easy to see why he would be hurt. At the end of the day though, Trae is a very young player and will have plenty more opportunities to make the Olympic team.
NBA Veteran Vince Carter Becomes First In The League To Play In Four Different Decades
This season will be his last.
For 24 seasons, Vince Carter has been a dominating force in the NBA. The 42-year-old league veteran is currently a shooting guard/forward for the Atlanta Hawks, but his career has taken him to many cities since 1998. He began with the Toronto Raptors (after being traded from the Golden State Warriors on draft night), then onto the New Jersey Nets, then had a brief stint with the Orlando Magic, a year with the Phoenix Suns, then over to the Dallas Mavericks before moving to the Memphis Grizzlies, then he was with the Sacramento Kings for a bit before making a home with the Hawks.
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Carter’s career highlights include being a Team USA Olympics gold-winner, a two-time All-NBA, an eight-time All-Star, Slam Dunk champion in 2000 and Rookie of the Year back in 1999. He’s had a long, successful ride in the NBA for all of these years, and he’s recently announced that this season will be his last.
During Saturday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, Carter played 18 minutes and scored three points. It may not seem like much, but it was a moment in NBA history that no one else had accomplished. Carter has become the first player in the NBA to appear in four separate decades, and it seems like a great way to bow out into retirement. Check out a collection of Carter’s best plays from each season of his career below.
