2024 Summer Olympic Games venue Oct 3, 2023; Paris, France; A general overall view of Parc des Princes. The stadium will be the venue for soccer (football) for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics Games. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
FeaturedNBAOlympicsBy Reice Shipley on

USA Basketball filled 11 of the 12 players on their roster for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympic Games on Monday night. But that spot was quickly filled on Tuesday, rightfully by one of the best players that the game of basketball has to offer.

The players named on Monday consisted of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Tyrese Haliburton.

It’s certainly an impressive list of top-tier players that should give any country in the world a run for their money in the upcoming Summer Games.

But on Tuesday, the team added a proven veteran to their roster, as Kawhi Leonard was named as the final player on the Team USA roster.

People were interested in these podcasts
Discover more podcasts →
Play Episode
1min
The Play-By-Play
Introducing: The Play-By-Play
The Play-By-Play is a sports media talk show brought to you by Awful Announcing. Join AA writers Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod as they discuss, debate and dissect the latest happenings in the sports media world and provide their unique insight on the industry’s biggest names and newsmakers. Subscribe to The Play-By-Play on Apple, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are found. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
NBA negativity, Caitlin Clark's TIME interview, Bill Belichick to UNC
Sports media is overwhelmingly negative about the NBA. Conservatives take issue on Caitlin Clark's TIME Athlete of the Year interview. Bill Belichick is going to coach for the Tar Heels. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:00: Negativity from sports media world on NBA-27:17: Bill Belichick going to UNC-36:06: Mike Florio suggesting Bears trade for Kyle Shanahan-41:18: College football calendar issues-45:53: Caitlin Clark’s Time interview reactions-54:11: Dave Pasch profile-56:17: Aaron Rodgers’ Netflix docuseriesYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
‘Mr. McMahon’ doc, Zach Lowe out at ESPN, Kamala Harris on ‘All the Smoke’
After years since the announcement, "Mr. McMahon" debuted on Netflix. ESPN surprisingly lets go of Zach Lowe. Kamala Harris does a podcast and it's "All the Smoke?" Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss these topics plus have some praise for "Scoop City" and Diana Taurasi's impact on the WNBA on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-:57: “Mr. McMahon” Netflix docuseries thoughts-26:24: Zach Lowe out at ESPN-40:21: Kamala Harris on “All The Smoke”-44:45: “Scoop City” praise-48:04: Diana TaurasiYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
Shannon Sharpe sex on IG Live, The Athletic pivoting, Jason Kelce all over ‘MNF’
Shannon Sharpe accidentally posting himself having sex on Instagram Live. Is a Pistons beat writer moving to cover the Knicks a sign of change for The Athletic? Was sports media being condescending toward Tua Tagovailoa? Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss all that and more, including ESPN getting their money's worth for Jason Kelce this Monday night on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:16: Shannon Sharpe having sex on Instagram Live-13:00: The Athletic pivoting away from local coverage?-27:31: Congress proposing sports gambling legislation-41:21: Pro athletes getting endorsement deals within sports betting companies-47:46: Jason Kelce was all over ESPN Monday night-51:25: Sports media conversation about Tua Tagovailoa’s concussionYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Initially, it was certainly a surprise that Leonard was initially left off of the roster. Not only is he one of the premiere defenders in all of basketball, but he brings some very high-level experience in big games as a two-time NBA Champion.

Many basketball fans weighed in on the decision on social media, with most comments largely agreeing that Leonard very much belongs on this team with the rest of the best players in the United States.

Only time will tell whether Team USA will live up to the high expectations that they have every year. But it sure seems like Kawhi Leonard is the perfect player to round out this already-stacked team.

[Jeff Zillgitt]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.

View all posts by Reice Shipley