Winning gold smells so sweet.
Winning gold smells so sweet. (USATSI)

USA Basketball announced Monday the 30 finalists that could make the 12-man roster for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. 

Here is the list:

  1. LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs)
  2. Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks)
  3. Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors)
  4. Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
  5. Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls)
  6. Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies)
  7. DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings)
  8. Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
  9. Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)
  10. DeMar DeRozan(Toronto Raptors)
  11. Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)
  12. Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
  13. Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets)
  14. Rudy Gay (Sacramento Kings)
  15. Paul George (Indiana Pacers)
  16. Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors)
  17. Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)
  18. James Harden (Houston Rockets)
  19. Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz)
  20. Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets)
  21. Andre Iguodala (Golden State Warriors)
  22. Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
  23. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
  24. DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers)
  25. Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs)
  26. Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers)
  27. Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
  28. Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)
  29. John Wall (Washington Wizards)
  30. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)

The most notable names missing from this list are Kobe Bryant (who already said he won't play but is still in the pool), Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Damian Lillard and Derrick Rose. Lillard's omission is not that surprising since he basically said last summer that he didn't think he had any shot of making the team. Rose was part of the 2014 FIBA World Cup team but with all of his injuries, other point guards like Paul, Irving and Wall are currently a better fit. The omission of Wade and Bosh is interesting but they have both played in the Olympics before and it just may be time for new, younger players to be part of the team. 

This list will be trimmed down to 12 by late June and will of course include several notable cuts. But no matter who gets taken off the list, the entire field is quite stacked so whoever makes the final roster will be part of a very star-studded and talented USA team.