'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are less than three weeks away, and NBA star Luka Doncic's Slovenia were the latest to qualify as they defeated Lithuania 96-85 on July 4th. All groups for basketball are now set after the qualifying round for un-ranked teams finished on Sunday.
It will be their first-ever appearance at the Olympics, making it Doncic's debut appearance at the quadrennial tournament.
Multiple other NBA stars will be seen donning their national team jerseys for the first time at the Olympics this year. On that note, let's take a look at the five biggest stars from the NBA, set to make their debut appearances in the Olympics, including Luka Doncic.
Which top 5 NBA stars are making their Olympics debut this year?
#5 Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal had yet another terrific year individually. He got his first call-up to the All-Star game as a starter, while also earning his first All-NBA honors. He was second behind Stephen Curry in the scoring charts for the 2020-21 NBA season, averaging a career-best 31.3 points.
Beal passed on the opportunity to potentially play for Team USA at the Rio Olympics in 2016 due to health concerns. He hadn't played a full season with the Washington Wizards until then, which factored in his decision not to play in the Olympics that year.
However, he was one of the first few stars to commit to playing for Team USA in the Olympics this time around. Beal and the Wizards endured an early exit in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, which gave him a good amount of rest and the opportunity to play for the national team.
He will likely start as the shooting guard alongside Damian Lillard in the backcourt.
#4 Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum is no stranger to donning the USA jersey. He featured in the 2019 FIBA world championship. Team USA sent a young squad back then that could only manage a seventh-place finish.
This time around, though, Tatum will be going into an international tournament with a much better squad, with seasoned campaigners like Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Kevin Love.
It will be his first Olympics campaign. Tatum will likely come off the bench for either of the potential starting forwards Kevin Durant and Draymond Green.
The Boston Celtics star had a terrific NBA season, during which he amassed a career-high 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. He also recorded three 50-point games (two in the regular season, one in the playoffs), including a career-best 60-points game.
#3 Devin Booker
2021 NBA finalist Phoenix Suns' young star Devin Booker is also one of the All-Stars set to play in his first-ever Olympics. This is one of his major firsts with the national team, having never played competitive basketball at the senior international level before.
Booker was part of the 2016 NBA Select team that trained with and against the 2016 U.S. Olympic team, including Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. Booker will now be teaming up with the two veterans this year and will be keen to help the national squad win their fourth consecutive gold medal at the Olympics.
He is the only player from the national team who won't be participating in training camp starting July 6th in Las Vegas, as he will be playing in the 2021 NBA Finals for the Suns.
#2 Luka Doncic
The NBA's young sensation and two-time All-Star Luka Doncic committed to playing for Slovenia in the Olympic Qualifiers right after the Dallas Mavericks' first-round series loss to the LA Clippers. He made sure the team qualified for its first-ever Olympics, with tremendous outings in the two qualifying games.
He scored a 31-point triple-double in the second and final qualifying game against Lithuania to seal an Olympic berth for his national team. Doncic is coming off a solid postseason campaign, averaging 35.7 points, 10.3 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game against the LA Clippers across seven games.
#1 Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard dropped out of consideration for the 2016 Rio Olympics and also exited from the chance to feature for the national team in the 2019 FIBA World Championship. He is finally set to represent Team USA and was one of the first players to commit.
Lillard had a terrific year averaging 28 points and seven rebounds per game during the 2020-21 NBA season. Lillard gave everything he had during the 2021 NBA Playoffs for the Portland Trail Blazers but ended up on the losing side in yet another first-round elimination for the side.
He will be eager to do well for Team USA and have a successful campaign at the Tokyo Olympics. Lillard will likely be the starting point guard for the team.
Honorable mentions also making their Olympic debuts: Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Bam Adebayo and Zach LaVine.
