Grant Hill, who has served as USA Basketball’s managing director since 2021, recently opened up about the missteps that led to the omission of veteran forward Draymond Green from the roster that ultimately captured the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Cost of Silence
In a candid interview, Hill confessed that the selection process was marred by two notable errors, the most glaring of which was the failure to include Green in the 41‑player pool despite his proven track record of Olympic success.
Green, a three‑time NBA All‑Star and gold‑medalist from the 2016 and 2020 Games, had been sidelined by a pair of on‑court incidents during the 2023‑24 NBA season, a factor that Hill says clouded the decision‑making but does not excuse the lack of direct communication.
Hill admitted that he regretted not personally informing Green about the exclusion, a lapse he described as a failure of leadership that denied the player the chance to hear the news directly from the person making the final call.
Despite the controversy, Green expressed disappointment yet remained appreciative of the consideration he received, emphasizing that his previous Olympic experiences remained a source of pride.
Team USA’s eventual triumph in Paris underscored the depth of talent on the roster, but the episode has sparked a broader conversation about transparency and accountability within national basketball leadership.