LeBron James, Kevin Love part of 2018-20 men’s national team pool

LeBron James and Kevin Love have been named to the 35-player pool for the 2018-20 USA Basketball men’s national team roster, according to a press release from USA Basketball.

Players from the pool are in content for the 12-man rosters for the 2019 World Championships and 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Both teams will be coached by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

Both James and Love have played for Team USA before and the two first crossed paths while winning a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. Both declined to play in the 2016 Olympics, where then-Cavalier Kyrie Irving helped lead the Americans to a gold medal.

The full pool list is as follows:

Harrison Barnes (Mavericks); Bradley Beal (Wizards); Devin Booker (Suns); Jimmy Butler(Timberwolves); Mike Conley Jr (Grizzlies); DeMarcus Cousins (Pelicans); Stephen Curry(Warriors); Anthony Davis (Pelicans); DeMar DeRozan (Raptors); Andre Drummond(Pistons); Kevin Durant (Warriors); Paul George (Thunder); Eric Gordon (Rockets); Draymond Green (Warriors); Blake Griffin (Pistons); James Harden (Rockets); Tobias Harris (Clippers); Gordon Hayward (Celtics); Kyrie Irving (Celtics); LeBron James(Cavaliers); DeAndre Jordan (Clippers); Kawhi Leonard (Spurs); Damian Lillard (Blazers); Kevin Love (Cavaliers); Kyle Lowry (Raptors); CJ McCollum (Blazers); Khris Middleton(Bucks); Victor Oladipo (Pacers); Chris Paul (Rockets); Isaiah Thomas (Lakers); Klay Thompson (Warriors); Myles Turner (Pacers); Kemba Walker (Hornets); John Wall(Wizards); Russell Westbrook (Thunder)

James will be 35 when the 2020 Olympics role around, and it would assumedly come after another deep playoff run. If he were to play in Tokyo, he’d be going for a third gold medal and a fourth medal overall. If he wants to play on the team, it’s hard to see him not being on it.

Love, who will be 31 when the 2020 Olympics start, likely faces more of an uphill battle. At the four spot, Team USA has players that are more versatile than him and, at the five spot, players that are bigger and better equipped to deal with the slew of international squads with elite centers. His three-point shooting, passing and rebounding, though, could get him a spot on the team.

This group does not have to play internationally this year, but there is a minicamp from July 25-27 in Las Vegas. If James and/or Love plan on playing internationally in the future, it seems likely they’ll at least attend that event.