The budding feud between Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and Team USA Managing Director Grant Hill reached fever-pitch last week as Hill called Brown a “conspiracy theorist” on the Dan Patrick Show.

After Kawhi Leonard dropped from the USA basketball team due to injury, Hill chose Brown’s teammate Derrick White to fill his place instead of the reigning NBA Finals MVP, a surprise decision. Brown believes he did not make the cut because of his war of words with Nike, the American basketball clothing sponsor. After learning White filled the final spot, he tweeted, “@nike this what we doing,” and a day later posted again on X saying, “I’m not afraid of you or your resources.”

Hill tried to clear the air on Friday regarding his roster decision.

“I mean, I think this idea that there’s a conspiracy theory – I always love a good conspiracy theory, but it was really, truly a basketball decision. These are tough decisions, but having gone through this with the FIBA competition, you want to find the right balance and the right pieces on the court that we needed.”

Once more, Brown took to Twitter to voice his opinion, writing, “Grant Hill calling me a conspiracy theorist is disappointing. I’ve been a VP since I was 21 years old, and I have a great understanding.”

Brown’s three teammates are in Paris to compete for Team USA. Jrue Holiday started the team’s first game against Serbia and played the second-most minutes, with 24. White, the player who replaced Brown, made one basket in 16 minutes. Jayson Tatum, who plays the position as Brown, did not receive a minute of game action due to the backlog of wings on the roster.

USA basketball Head Coach Steve Kerr said he “feels like an idiot” after the game for not finding space for the three-time All-NBA SF, but it proved how hard it is to find the floor on this team.

The United States men’s basketball team dominated Serbia in a 105-79 exhibition victory Wednesday. Heavily favored to win gold this summer, Team USA easily handled Nikola Jokic and company with a well-rounded attack and stifling defense.

Steph Curry led the way on offense, scoring 24 points, but Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo shut down the paint and earned praise from Team USA head coach Steve Kerr after the game.

“Bam and AD together are really something, just the switching, but they can also protect the rim and be in a drop if we go to that coverage,” Kerr said, according to ESPN. “The strength of the team is the depth, and so if we can play in four- or five-minute bursts of just playing intense defense, hitting bodies, rebounding being physical, then it makes sense to play that way.”

To put the United States’ victory in context, Serbia is a highly reasonable medal contender featuring a three-time NBA MVP and several valuable contributors on the roster. Team USA is simply on a different level, boasting All-Star-caliber talent throughout the roster.

After two meandering exhibition victories against Canada and Australia, it seems like the U.S. is sharpening into form as players accustomed to facing off gradually gel into a cohesive unit. Kerr has experimented with the starting five, but decisions off the bench may end up making the difference due to the depth of talent at his disposal.

With the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant not even contributing the lion’s share toward victories in exhibition games, it becomes difficult to imagine any team in the Olympics stopping the U.S. in their entirety. This is the point, however, as Team USA has suffered several embarrassing defeats at the international level in recent years. The country’s stars seem to be uniting to prove that supremacy in the sport remains firmly stateside.

Nikki Hiltz, an American transgender runner, has made history by qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the women’s 1500m final, running a record-breaking time of 3:55.53.

“Yesterday afternoon in Eugene Oregon a childhood dream of mine came true. I’m not sure when this will fully sink in… All I know is today I’m waking up just so grateful for my people, overwhelmed by all the love and support, and filled with joy that I get to race people I deeply love and respect around a track for a living,” Hiltz shared through an Instagram post.

“This is bigger than just me,” Hiltz told CBS Sports. “It’s the last day of Pride Month, and I wanted to run this one for my community. All the LGBTQ folks, you guys brought me home that last 100. I could just feel the love and support.”

Hiltz will be joined by Emily Mackay, who finished second with a time of 3:55.90, and Elle St. Pierre, who took third with a time of 3:55.99. The trio of runners represent a strong representation of the women’s Olympic distance running team, showing the depth of talent in American middle-distance running.

The journey to this point has been filled with determination. Hiltz’s previous accolade of winning a silver medal in the 1500m at the Indoor World Championships in March was a warm-up to this Olympic qualification.

As the women’s 1500m event at the Paris Olympics approaches, set to begin on August 6 at 4:05 a.m. ET, anticipation builds for Hiltz and their teammates.

Some sports, like World Swimming, have restricted trans athletes from competing in the Olympics.

Team USA executive director Grant Hill confirmed Wednesday that it was the team’s decision to replace Kawhi Leonard with Derrick White ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The team reportedly coordinated with the Clippers and ultimately decided to send Leonard home.

In a press conference before a U.S. exhibition game against Canada on Wednesday, Hill said that there was an intense effort by all parties to allow Leonard to stay. The Clippers star missed most of the team’s first-round playoff series in May and was seen walking with a slight limp during Team USA training camp.

“We just felt that we had to pivot, and not to get into the particulars, in terms of what went into the decision, but we just felt it was in our best interest, but also in the Clippers’ and Kawhi’s best interest, to move into a different direction,” Hill said. “We tried. I think we all tried and we gave it a valiant effort, and unfortunately, we have to move forward.”

NBA stars naturally have limited opportunities to represent their countries in the Olympics. Leonard has never competed before, and a resurgent movement within the United States’ program likely motivated him to attempt to play as well.

After an embarrassing fourth-place showing in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Team USA has assembled a monstrous Olympics team already being compared to the 1992 Dream Team and 2008 Redeem Team. Leonard could have had an opportunity to re-establish American dominance alongside the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards and countless other NBA stars.

“I think he wanted to be here, like all these guys want to be here, and we don’t take that lightly at all,” Hill said during the press conference. “It speaks to the program and the opportunity, and so, personally speaking, I know what it’s like to want to do something and your body’s just not right. … Ultimately, it didn’t work out.”

While Leonard will not get the opportunity to make his Olympic debut, White will now receive the chance just a few months after playing an integral role in the Celtics’ championship run. White previously competed for Team USA in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where the team finished seventh.

Last month, Hill told uInterview exclusively: “Every USA basketball team has a target on their backs. We know we will be targeted, and teams will want to beat us.”

On the final day of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials, Simone Biles clinched her place on her third Olympic team, making her just the fourth American woman to achieve this milestone. At age 27, Biles is the oldest women’s gymnast to make an Olympic team in 72 years.

Biles earned her spot by winning the all-around title at the Trials with a score of 117.225. Reflecting on her journey, Biles said to NBC Sports, “I knew I wasn’t done after the performances in Tokyo. So just getting back in the gym, and then working hard and just trusting the process with Cecile and Laurent (Landi) – I knew I’d be back.”

Joining Biles in Paris will be her Tokyo Olympic teammates Suni Lee (111.675), Jordan Chiles (111.425), and Jade Carey (111.350). First-year senior Hezly Rivera (111.150) will also be making her first Olympic appearance.

For the first time in history, an Olympic gymnastics team will feature two Olympic all-around champions: Biles (2016) and Lee (2020).

The selection process was challenging, with several top contenders dropping out due to injuries. Shilese Jones withdrew after competing only on the uneven bars, Skye Blakely sustained an Achilles injury during practice, and Kayla DiCello suffered an Achilles injury on her vault during the competition.

Rotation-by-Rotation Highlights:

Rotation 5:

• Tiana Sumanasekera: Stuck her Yurchenko double twist for a 14.350.
• Hezly Rivera: Scored 14.300 on uneven bars with a clean routine.
• Joscelyn Roberson: Posted a 14.500 for her Cheng vault.
• Jordan Chiles: Scored 14.500 for her Yurchenko double twist and 14.675 for her Lopez vault.
• Jade Carey: Received a 14.675 for her Cheng vault.
• Suni Lee: Earned a 14.875 on uneven bars.
• Simone Biles: Scored 15.500 for her Yurchenko double pike.

Rotation 6:

• Jordan Chiles: Scored 14.200 on uneven bars.
• Leanne Wong: Scored 13.650 on balance beam.
• Jade Carey: Scored 13.075 on uneven bars.
• Simone Biles: Scored 14.200 on uneven bars.
• Suni Lee: Scored 12.825 on balance beam after a rough routine.
• Hezly Rivera: Scored 14.275 on balance beam.

Rotation 7:

• Leanne Wong: Scored 13.625 on floor.
• Jade Carey: Scored 13.625 on balance beam.
• Kaliya Lincoln: Scored 13.650 on floor.
• Simone Biles: Scored 13.900 on balance beam.
• Suni Lee: Scored 13.850 on floor.
• Tiana Sumanasekera: Scored 13.950 on balance beam.
• Hezly Rivera: Scored 13.550 on floor.
• Joscelyn Roberson: Scored 14.050 on balance beam.
• Jordan Chiles: Scored 12.225 on balance beam.

Rotation 8:

• Simone Biles: Scored 14.725 on floor.
• Suni Lee: Scored 14.100 on vault.
• Tiana Sumanasekera: Scored 13.725 on floor.
• Hezly Rivera: Scored 14.200 on vault.
• Joscelyn Roberson: Scored 13.925 on floor.
• Jordan Chiles: Scored 14.100 on floor.
• Leanne Wong: Scored 14.500 on vault.
• Jade Carey: Scored 14.150 on floor.

Final Scores:

1. Simone Biles: 117.225
2. Suni Lee: 111.675
3. Jordan Chiles: 111.425
4. Jade Carey: 111.350
5. Hezly Rivera: 111.150
6. Joscelyn Roberson: 110.975
7. Leanne Wong: 110.425
8. Tiana Sumanasekera: 109.550
9. Kaliya Lincoln: 109.400
10. Simone Rose: 105.200

Biles’ dominant performance and the strength of the team bode well for the U.S. in the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Rafael Nadal announced Thursday morning that he will not participate at Wimbledon for the second straight year. While he slowly returns after several injuries in recent years, Nadal explained that he is choosing to focus on training for the 2024 Olympics.

The 38-year-old tennis star said that he has been training for several months on clay courts to prepare for Paris. Wimbledon is held on grass, however, putting Nadal in an unprepared situation for the Grand Slam event.

“I am saddened not to be able to live this year the great atmosphere of that amazing event that will always be in my heart, and be with all the British fans that always gave me great support,” Nadal wrote in a post on X. “I will miss you all.”

Nadal won at Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, but the vast majority of his Grand Slam victories have come in the French Open on clay. He has won the event 14 times, most recently in 2022, demonstrating superior play well into his thirties. At a point in his life where he must preserve himself more, he clearly seems to prefer the idea of taking the time to prepare for his strongest surface.

Last time the Olympics rolled around in 2021, Nadal suffered a foot injury and had to miss the event, as well as Wimbledon. In 2022, he suffered an abdominal tear on the grass and had to withdraw in the semifinals. In 2023, he missed even more time with a hip injury.

It’s unclear how effective Nadal will be in the Olympics coming off a trio of debilitating setbacks, but the experience has clearly taught him to prepare differently at this point in his career. He has already said that he plans to compete in a smaller clay tournament in Bastad, Sweden, in July as a prep for Paris.

The list of athletes participating for the Refugee Team in the 2024 Paris Olympics was announced Thursday. Thirty-six athletes, originally from 11 countries and competing in 12 sports, will go for gold under the banner.

According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), athletes accepted to the Refugee Team were chosen from 70 scholarship applications. Women’s cyclist Masomah Ali Zada, the Refugee Team’s chef de mission originally from Afghanistan, told reporters Thursday that the opportunity to compete as a refugee is liberating for her.

“Having our own emblem creates a sense of belonging and empowers us to also stand for the population of more than 100 million people who share this same experience,” Zada said. “I cannot wait to wear it proudly.”

Athletes on this year’s Refugee Team are originally from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Venezuela. The vast majority of them fled because of hardships from military conflicts or to escape persecution.

Since 2016, when the Refugee Team was founded and ten athletes entered the Rio de Janeiro games, no one under the banner has earned a medal. As the program expands and more athletes qualify, this will undoubtedly change. At the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, the Refugee Team featured 29 athletes, and the number is currently set to increase again in 2024.

“We welcome all of you with open arms,” IOC President Thomas Bach said during a virtual meeting with athletes. “You are an enrichment to our Olympic Community and to our societies. With your participation in the Olympic Games, you will demonstrate the human potential of resilience and excellence. This will send a message of hope to the more than 100 million displaced people around the world. At the same time, you will make billions of people around the world aware of the magnitude of the refugee crisis. Therefore, I encourage everyone around the world to join us in cheering for you – the IOC Refugee Olympic Team.”

LeBron James will headline a stacked United States national basketball team roster in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Three years after a depleted American group won gold, many of the NBA’s top stars are signing on to form a modern-day Dream Team.

The U.S. team had an abundance of options for this year, as countless NBA stars expressed interest in playing. In the end, the organization chose 12 players that represent a healthy mix of NBA superstardom and proven Olympics experience.

In addition the James, the following players will represent the United States in Paris: Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Kawhi Leonard and Jayson Tatum.

Grant Hill, the U.S. men’s senior team managing director, said that he and his team went through a rigorous process to assemble the best team possible.

“A lot of thought did go into, and I’m sure everyone on here understands that the FBA game is a different game than the NBA game,” Hill said. “And so you want players whose games certainly translate on that stage. I’ll be honest, I learned a great deal having gone through last summer. I learned certainly the teams, the elite teams, the teams that seriously have a chance to contend for gold medal. I learned the diversity and styles and just to feed the game overall. I mean, you go through a World Cup, you really pick up on quite a deal, quite a bunch.”

Several players, like Curry and Embiid, will be making their first Olympics experience this year, with the latter star choosing to represent the U.S. over Cameroon and France. Others, like James and Durant, have made multiple appearances in the Olympics and proven integral in earning four straight gold medals for their home country.

“It’s more miles put on these tires,” James said about his Olympics commitment back in February. “But if I’m committed — which I am — to Team USA, then I’m going to commit my mind, body and soul to being out there for Team USA, being out there representing our country with the utmost respect and go out there and play.”

The medals for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games were unveiled Thursday. Designed by a jeweler, Chaumet, for the first time, all 5,084 medals will be encrusted with original iron from the Eiffel Tower.

“By placing fragments of the Eiffel Tower at the center of its medals, Paris 2024 hopes to leave athletes with an unforgettable memory of the Games, of Paris and of France,” officials from Paris 2024 said in a statement.

Every piece of the Eiffel Tower included will be hexagonal and weigh 18 grams. The designers reportedly sought to give these discarded pieces of the Eiffel Tower, completed in 1889, a “second lease of life” in the form of medals. Each piece of iron will feature the Paris 2024 logo.

“We came to Chaumet with a crazy idea,” Joachim Roncin, Director of Design at Paris 2024, said, according to Forbes. “Why not include a little of the Eiffel Tower in the medals? The Chaumet team rose to the challenge and we are all very proud of the result.”

Chaumet is owned and operated under the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy luxury brand and typically designs watches and jewelry. The company is based in the Place Vendome in Paris.

Event organizers unveiled the medals nearly six months ahead of the Olympic Games, which will begin on July 26. The Paralympics begin on August 28. The Eiffel Tower is expected to be a prominent motif in this year’s Olympic Games. Several events, including beach volleyball in the Olympics and blind soccer in the Paralympics, will be held beside the 135-year-old structure.

Paris last hosted the Olympic Games in 1924, exactly 100 years ago. The city also hosted in 1900, which means that it will soon join London as one of just two cities to host the Olympics three times. The European pair will eventually be joined by Los Angeles in 2028. As a host nation on six different occasions, France only trails the United States, which has hosted nine games since 1904.

Once the torch ignites the 2024 Paris Olympics several years from now, new events seem certain to attract the world’s spotlight, as the Olympic Committee continues to work towards expanding and diversifying the Olympic offerings.

More specifically, the 2024 Olympics poise to feature four new sports. Those sports include break dancing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing. Other than the potential to generate further entertainment with these new events, this move comes as a conscious effort by the Olympic Committee as they continue to express their commitment to include more gender neutral events as the Olympic Games evolve. This plan overall aims to modernize the Olympics and expand the world–wide phenomenon to more people.

Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach included his thoughts on the proposal to add the four new events as he stated, “The four sports that Paris has proposed are all totally in line with Olympic Agenda 2020 because they contribute to making the program more gender balanced and more urban.” Bach then said, “The proposed sports are in line with these principles and enhance Paris 2024’s overall dynamic Games concept, which focuses on inclusivity, inspiring a new audience and hosting socially responsible Games.”

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019- TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Although sports such as skateboarding and surfing already received approval for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, their re–approval alongside break dancing and sport climbing truly highlight the attempt to invite new talent and more athletes to the Olympic stage.