Joe Harris, a seasoned shooting guard who spent ten seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets, and Detroit Pistons, is retiring from basketball, according to Shams Charania. The 32-year-old Harris was selected in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft out of UVA. His career average from beyond the arc is 43.6%, making him one of the NBA’s top shooters since being drafted.

After 10 NBA seasons, Joe Harris has retired from basketball. Harris played 504 NBA games for the Nets, Cavaliers and Pistons. He was a career 43.6 percent three-point shooter and won the Three-Point Contest at 2019 All-Star weekend. pic.twitter.com/2eLPJAhLzU

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 15, 2024

Throughout his six seasons with the Nets, Harris shot above 40% from three points, making his greatest years with Brooklyn. Harris had his best statistical season in 2019–2020, winning the Three-Point Contest while averaging 14.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. After suffering an ankle injury in the 2022 season, Harris was never the same and missed most of the Nets’ games. After the 2023 season, Harris was transferred to the Pistons in a salary dump; however, he only played 16 games and averaged 2.4 points before being dismissed by the team in the middle of the season.

Joe Harris:

— 43.6 3P% (top 5 all-time)
— Highest 3P% by a player with 1,000+ 3PM
— Nets all-time leader in 3-pointers
— Three-Point Contest champion

Retiring after 10 seasons. https://t.co/xaGID3ayUA

— StatMuse (@statmuse) August 15, 2024

Harris ranks fifth all-time in the NBA and is still one of the most accurate sharpshooters in history despite a difficult end to his career. The only people ahead of him are Dražen Petrović (43.7%), Luke Kennard (43.9%), Hubert Davis (44.1%), and Steve Kerr (45.4%). The fact that Harris leads the Nets in three-pointers made in team history is yet another outstanding accomplishment. These are only a few of Harris’ amazing accomplishments; the NBA history books will always remember him.

NBA champions four times over: The Pistons well-deserved Olympic berth.

With 126 medals—the most of any Olympics—the United States concluded the 2024 Summer Olympics on Sunday night. Forty of those were gold, linking China and the United States. The American basketball teams were predicted to win going into the games. The gold medal winning men’s and women’s teams appeared unsteady and required valiant efforts to get them going.

In the three-on-three competitions, the United States took part as well. The women competed in the event for the second time, while the men made their debut during the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021). The 2021 women’s squad won the first Olympic gold medal in the history of the competition, captained by WNBA players Jackie Young, Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Stefanie Dolson. The men’s debut team was not eligible to compete.

In the games this year, both teams had difficulty. Despite just taking home a bronze, the women’s team was nonetheless victorious. The men’s team finished 2–5, failing to advance past the preliminary round. NBA players may not play in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, given these unsatisfactory results. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green thinks they should, specifically bringing up Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren as a possible member of Team USA.

What did Green say specifically, and is he correct? Now let’s get started.

Pistons, a four-time NBA champion, have a well-deserved Olympic spot.
Green’s Thoughts On Duren And Other Team USA Players
Green asked on his podcast why NBA players weren’t on the Olympic three-on-three team:

“Why do young players in the NBA not play on the 3-on-3 team? Guys who may never get the chance to play for their country’s national team or who haven’t had the opportunity yet. It’s all about creating a CV, Jalen Duren, Jalen Green, and Naz Reid. Duren will most likely be on the upcoming Team USA, and I believe he is headed for superstar status. Imagine Tyrese Maxey winning his first gold medal in those situation. I saw Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum win the gold in the 3-on-3 in 2021. They won’t be winning a gold medal for their country’s team, but they can already claim their achievement. It’s unique. How that 3-on-3 squad ended up being the one we had is beyond me. I don’t understand.

Green Draymond

Green brings up a good point. Young NBA players joining the three-on-three squad could contribute to developing the skill pool for upcoming Teams USA lineups. Early Olympic experience may increase their prospects of success with the traditional squad. The athletes chosen for this year’s squad, nevertheless, had some value.

The American squad that won the 3×3 World Cup in 2019 and 2022 included Canyon Barry. Kareem Maddox was a member of those squads as well, topping all players in rebounds (20) and blocked shots (four) in 2019. Dylan Travis, who is playing in his first World Cup since 2022, won the NCAA Division II national championship while attending Florida Southern. With 59 points, Jimmer Fredette led all players in the World Cup. Considering their prior accomplishments and expertise, it makes sense that these athletes were selected for the Olympic squad.

Developing Duren’s Case on Team USA

Duren was a member of the chosen group that assisted Team USA in getting ready for this summer’s international competition. In terms of 2028, Duren seems like a good pick for the national squad. He is only 20 years old, yet he already has the physical attributes to rank among the league’s most potent centers. His physicality in the paint and his aggressive style on the offensive and defensive boards are exactly what Team USA will look for going forward.

Duren has showed glimmers of his enormous potential in his two seasons with the Pistons. He is averaging 63% shooting, 70% from the free-throw line, and 11.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. Duren may be a key component of the Pistons’ comeback if he can establish a dependable go-to move in the post, increase his shooting range, and consolidate the confidence gained from his summer workouts.

Duren still has room to improve his defense. He shouldn’t be averaging fewer than one block per game with his athleticism. To reach his full potential, he needs to improve his discipline, stay away from stupid fouls, and develop into a more reliable shot-blocking presence. Duren could be the cornerstone of Detroit’s defense and guarantee his status on Team USA for many years with these upgrades.

Final Word

Although the present three-on-three team was chosen based on past performance and success, adding up-and-coming NBA players might provide a new perspective and energize the group. Jalen Duren will advance for Team USA and Detroit’s comeback as he continues to flourish with the Pistons.

In the end, combining youthful talent with experience will be crucial to Team USA’s continuous domination because it will ensure that the players of tomorrow are ready to take over. In the upcoming years, it’s unclear if Duren and other young talents will be given the opportunity to represent their nation. However, one thing is certain: skilled hands will oversee the future of American basketball.