LAS VEGAS, NV — Team USA is boasting some of the biggest names heading into Paris for the upcoming Olympic games with LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant among the NBA stars set to represent USA Basketball.
The team participated in training camp and faced off against Canada before departing the United States on their Olympic journey. Here are some takeaways from USA Basketball’s events:
- Thirteen players saw minutes in Team USA’s showcase in Las Vegas, including three players from the Select Team. Everyone scheduled to play for the National Team in Paris—except Durant, who was out with a calf injury, and newcomer Derrick White—had a chance to showcase their talent against Team Canada, as Team USA cruised to an 86-72 victory.
- White was a late addition to Las Vegas with Kawhi Leonard withdrawing due to inflammation in his right knee. “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,” Team USA executive director Grant Hill said. “We tried. I think we all tried and we gave it a valiant effort, and unfortunately, we have to move forward.”
- As for the contest that came at the conclusion of training camp, many will point to Team USA’s 17 turnovers and sloppy execution at times. However, the showcase wasn’t meant to be played like Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and it takes time for a team full of literal number one or two options to gel, which is something Stephen Curry suggested. “There’s a temptation to defer, there’s a temptation to overthink every possession because everybody can make a play,” Curry said. “And that first unit, we struggled with that. And then once we got settled in, it seemed like everybody got a little bit more comfortable as we got deeper into the game and hopefully the next four exhibition games we have (we’ll) see more progress.”
- The Americans did put on a defensive masterclass in their showcase against Canada, racking up nine steals and 11 blocked shots while holding their neighbors up north to 33.7% shooting. Defense is often harder to figure out than offense but it remains to be seen how Team USA can handle Team France and guys like Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert inside, as Team Canada does not have a big man to test Team USA’s relative lack of size.
- The LeBron James and Curry pairing will dominate the game with their respective abilities, especially when they both get out in transition. Coach Steve Kerr placed them both in the starting lineup against Canada, alongside Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker and Joel Embiid, the latter of whom fouled out in the contest.
- Holiday’s on-ball defense continues to create many problems for his opponents, especially against the opposing team’s best players, such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against Canada.
- Anthony Edwards was a sparkplug off the bench for Team USA, and that should continue given his confidence and insistence on being a top option no matter who’s alongside him, in addition to his overall shot-creating abilities.
- With the bevy of shot-creators and versatile defenders Team USA possesses, they should be viewed as the favorites by far.
