Follow the Olympics 2016 Men’s Basketball Team on Instagram
We’re just a few days away from the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics, which is set to air on Friday, August 5. After many months of Olympic trials, the teams have been set in place, and all that’s left to do is gear up for an exciting season of sports, competitions, and skilled athletes. And if the USA is primed to win any medals, it's basketball. (The United States Men's Basketball Team has only won a medal at every single one of the 17 Olympics they've attended, including 14 gold medals. NBD.)
As we get ready to count the days until the opening ceremony, there’s really only one thing to do: check out the Instagram pages of all the athletes that are going to be going for the gold. Obviously we appreciate these accomplished dudes for their athletic skills, but let's be real: They're not bad to look at either. And, their social media accounts are a perfect way to get an up-close look at the Summer Games. Read on to get to know each of Team USA’s basketball players who will be going for the gold.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@carmeloanthony1/13Carmelo Anthony
As if Carmelo Anthony wasn’t cute enough on his own, his Instagram is full of photos of him and his son with LaLa Anthony. This 32-year-old is originally from Brooklyn, NY, and he’s a forward for the New York Knicks. This isn’t his first rodeo in the Olympics; Carmelo played in both the 2012 and 2008 games and won gold medals in each. You can follow Carmelo on Instagram and Twitter.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@hbarnes2/13Harrison Barnes
Twenty-four-year-old Harrison Barnes is a forward for the Dallas Mavericks, and this will be his first time in the Olympic games. Originally hailing from Ames, Iowa, Harrison started playing basketball as a young boy and won many championships throughout high school. In addition to playing basketball, Harrison competed in track & field in high school and he was also a musician; he played the saxophone and sang in the school choir. Harrison is on Twitter and Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@jimmybutler3/13Jimmy Butler
This is Jimmy Butler’s first time competing in the Olympics. He is 26 years old and just completed his fifth season as a forward for the Chicago Bulls. Jimmy is originally from Houston, Texas, and has earned an array of basketball awards throughout both high school and college. His Instagram shows that he’s pretty stylish off the courts, and he also has a really cute dog. You can follow Jimmy on Twitter and Insta.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@boogiecousins4/13DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins has been playing basketball with the NBA for the past six seasons as a center for the Sacramento Kings. The 25-year-old Alabaman is competing in his first Olympic games this year, although he was a member of the Basketball Select Team that trained against the Olympic Team in 2012. Like Jimmy Butler, DeMarcus also has a really cute dog that is featured quite often on his Insta page. DeMarcus is on both Twitter and Instagram, so you can follow his journey to Rio this summer.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@demar_derozan5/13DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan is joining the Olympics for the very first time after playing for the Toronto Raptors for the past seven seasons. Originally hailing from Compton, California, DeMar, now 26, led his high school to many accomplishments, including an impressive 26-6 record and a place in the CIF Division IAA Southern Section quarterfinals. DeMar is on Twitter and Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@easymoneysniper6/13Kevin Durant
This will be Kevin Durant’s second time in the Olympics; he participated in the 2012 games where he also received a gold medal. The 27-year-old basketball player was recently drafted to the Golden State Warriors, where he will be playing guard. Originally from Washington, D.C., Kevin has claimed many awards and titles throughout his career, including the 2010 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year award. You can follow Kevin on Twitter and Instagram.
Courtesy of Instagram/@ygtrece7/13Paul George
26-year-old Paul George is heading to his first Olympic Games this year in Rio. As a guard for the Indiana Pacers, Paul has been playing with the NBA for six seasons after getting drafted in 2010. Paul only played two seasons of college basketball with Fresno State University before getting picked up by the NBA. In college, Paul had the best single-season free throw percentage in his university’s history. Paul is on both Twitter and Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@money23green8/13Draymond Green
Born and raised in Michigan, Draymond Green is headed to his first Olympics this year in Rio. At age 26, Draymond has been playing with the NBA for four seasons, all with the Golden State Warriors. A quick scroll through Draymond’s Instagram page shows that he has a pretty big squad, and it looks like he has a lot of fun with his friends. You can follow Draymond on both Twitter and Insta.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@kyrieirving9/13Kyrie Irving
Twenty-four-year-old Kyrie Irving is competing in the Olympics for the first time in 2016. He has been playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers for the past five seasons, after getting drafted in 2011 – just one season into his collegiate career at Duke University. Kyrie’s Instagram shows that he likes to hang out with his friends, and he seems to be pretty into video games. Kyrie was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2012, at just 20 years old. You can follow Kyrie’s road to Rio on Twitter and Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@deandrejordan610/13DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan has been with the Los Angeles Clippers for the past eight seasons as a center. The 28-year-old athlete was drafted by the NBA in 2008, after playing one season of collegiate basketball with Texas A&M University. Fun fact: DeAndre and his teammates have a hilarious locker room dancing tradition; whoever is last back to the locker room after the game has to dance. DeAndre is on social media, and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@kyle_lowry711/13Kyle Lowry
After playing with the NBA for 10 seasons, Kyle Lowry is finally headed to his first Olympics this year. At 30 years old, Kyle is currently playing with the Toronto Raptors, where he is a guard. Kyle has two sons, Karter and Kamero, and he features them prominently on his Instagram page. (They are pretty darn cute). Kyle is on both Twitter and Insta.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@klaythompson12/13Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson is playing in his first Olympics this year in Rio. Klay is 26 years old and originally hails from Los Angeles, California. Currently, Klay plays for the Golden State Warriors and has been with them since 2011. Klay’s Instagram has lots of pictures of his adorable dog, whose name is Rocco. We definitely think Rocco deserves a gold medal for cuteness. You can follow Klay on Twitter and Insta.
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