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Harrison Barnes Accepts USA Invite For Olympics

The U.S. basketball team has its roster for Rio.

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According to Yahoo sports, Barnes will play for team United States of America in the Rio Olympics. They were confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because roster details were to remain private.

Harrison Barnes #40 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he made a three-point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves at ORACLE Arena on April 5, 2016 in Oakland, California.

The Americans had received 10 confirmations by Thursday and were holding spots for Irving and LeBron James, who wanted more time to decide after winning the National Basketball Association championship.

The news comes after multiple big-name stars, including Stephen Curry and LeBron James, declined invitations to play in the Olympics, which open August 5.

ESPN first reported Irving would play.

Australian-born Irving, Most Valuable Player of the 2014 Basketball World Cup, averaged 19.6 points and 4.7 assists for Cleveland this season. The other eight players: Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, Indiana’s Paul George, New York’s Carmelo Anthony, and the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan.

It’s not as experienced as recent USA teams, as only Durant and Anthony have played in the Olympics.

The US squad will be favoured to win a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in Rio under coach Mike Krzyzewski, who will leave after the games following a decade in the job. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Boston’s Isaiah Thomas recently have taken to Twitter in hopes of luring Durant.

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