Olympic roster begins with 44 NBA finalists for Tokyo Games

James may return; final team will be determined in early June

LeBron James is considering a return to the Olympics.

James — a two-time gold medalist and three-time Olympian — was among 44 players announced by USA Basketball on Monday as finalists for the team that will play in the Tokyo Games this summer. James played in 2004, 2008 and 2012, helping the U.S. win gold in his most recent two appearances.

The pool includes 19 players who have won a total of 31 gold medals in either Olympic or World Cup competition for the Americans — including nine players who captured the Olympic title for USA Basketball in Rio de Janeiro four years ago.

James has played in 68 games for the U.S. national team and has said several times over the past year or so that he is thinking about another Olympics — after sitting out the Rio Games for a variety of reasons. Part of the interest in participating this summer is to have the chance to play for U.S. coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.

There will be no tryouts. USA Basketball will pare the list down to a 12-person Olympic team by early June, those decisions to be made by a selection committee — and to be based in part on player availability and health. Training camp will start in early July, potentially as little as two weeks after the end of the NBA Finals. The Olympics start July 24.

USA Basketball officials, including Bryan Colangelo and Popovich, have met with players in a variety of ways over the past several weeks.

Also included in the pool: 15 of the 16 players from the U.S. who are scheduled to play in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, and all 12 members of the team that represented the U.S. at last summer’s Basketball World Cup in China — where the Americans managed only a seventh-place finish after roughly three dozen players who were on the list at some point dropped out along the way.

The nine players still in the mix from the 2016 Olympic team: Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes, Miami’s Jimmy Butler, San Antonio’s DeMar DeRozan, Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George, Golden State’s Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, and Toronto’s Kyle Lowry.

LAKERS 125, SUNS 100: In Los Angeles, Rajon Rondo scored a season-high 23 points, Anthony Davis added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the Lakers rolled over Phoenix.

The Lakers had dropped three of their last four at Staples Center but didn’t have any problems against the Suns. Los Angeles put the game away in the second as Rondo scored 15 points in the quarter.

RAPTORS 137, TIMBERWOLVES 126:

In Toronto, OG Anunoby scored a careerhigh 25 points and matched his career high with 12 rebounds, Kyle Lowry had 27 points and 11 assists, and the Raptors extended their franchise-record winning streak to 15 by beating Minnesota.

HEAT 113, WARRIORS 101: In San Francisco, Jimmy Butler had 21 points and 10 rebounds in his return to Miami’s lineup, and the Heat won in Andre Iguodala’s first game back in the Bay Area.

Butler was crisp after sitting out the previous two games with a right shoulder strain.

HORNETS 87, PISTONS 76: In Detroit, Miles Bridges scored 18 points and Charlotte ended a five-game losing streak. The win was Charlotte’s 10th straight against Detroit, including two consecutive 4-0 season sweeps.

BUCKS 123, KINGS 111: In Milwaukee, Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe scored 28 points apiece to lead Milwaukee to the victory without Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo, the reigning MVP, missed the game after he and his girlfriend welcomed their first child.

JAZZ 123, MAVERICKS 119: In Dallas, Utah’s Jordan Clarkson scored 25 points and Rudy Gobert stayed perfect from the floor against Dallas this season.

Gobert was 7-of-7 shooting after making all eight attempts in Utah’s home victory last month. He finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds.

NUGGETS 127, SPURS 120: In Denver, Jamal Murray scored 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to help the Nuggets rally from 23 down to get the win.

NETS 106, PACERS 105: In Indianapolis, Spencer Dinwiddie made a 21-foot jumper with 5 seconds left, lifting Brooklyn to the victory. Dinwiddie finished with 21 points.

MAGIC 135, HAWKS 126: In Orlando, Fla., Aaron Gordon scored 26 points for Orlando, and Nikola Vucevic had 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.