56 All-NBA selections. Appeared in All-Star 83 times. He won 14 NBA championships. He has won the MVP award eight times. There are 9 final MVPs. All-Defense honors 29 times. 10 Olympic gold medals.
U.S. Basketball Men's Senior Team Managing Director Grant Hill has announced that the U.S. team that will participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics will include LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, and Jason. – Gathered legendary NBA stars such as Tatum, who have a lot of experience and a proven track record. , Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton.
Hill, who was able to secure contracts from most of America's top players, had the difficult task of selecting just 12 players, and he had the difficult task of selecting only 12 players, with offensive and defensive power that could match up against any team the United States would face at the Olympics, especially France, Australia, and Australia. He sought a combination of power, size, length and versatility. Serbia, Canada, Germany and, if these two teams qualify, possibly Spain and Lithuania could also participate.
“We've thought about a lot of things, but I think everyone here understands that the FBA game is a different game than the NBA game,” Hill said. “So you need players who can definitely translate their play on that stage. To be honest, I learned a lot going through last summer. About teams, elite teams, teams that have a chance to seriously compete. I definitely learned.''For the gold medal, I learned variety and style, and when you go through a World Cup, you really learn a lot.
“I think it takes defense, experience and a collective understanding of how to win. Whether it's on the FBA stage or the NBA stage, it's a puzzle. Obviously you need talented individuals, but You need players who can fit in and fit into the specific role you need. ”
The United States is the favorite to win a fifth consecutive gold medal.
Let's break down the roster and its big strengths.
Team USA boasts explosive offensive power
With James, Durant, Curry, Tatum, Booker, Embiid, and Davis leading the way, scoring shouldn't be a problem. He has 3-point shooting, low post options, playmaking, and versatility.
The U.S. can play big and small with several rotation options. It's up to head coach Steve Kerr to find the best five player options, a luxury no other Olympic men's basketball coach has.
Holiday is the perfect player here as well. Because he doesn't need to score, but he's a player who can run the offense and get the ball to whoever can. Additionally, he can also score when needed.
Consider this five-player rotation: James, Durant, Curry, Tatum, Embiid. He has the ability to play one-on-one, move the basketball, shoot from the outside, put the basketball inside, and create mismatches in every position.
Start making smart substitutions like Leonard for LeBron, Edwards for Curry, and Davis for Embiid. A similar problem exists with defense.
They also have two big players in Adebayo alongside Embiid or Davis.
Building a team with defense in mind
The United States finished fourth at the FIBA World Cup last summer, but defense and rebounding were challenges the Americans couldn't overcome. Now, it wasn't a perfect roster. The U.S. had its limits because it's difficult to get the best players to play two summers in a row.
However, Hill understood that Paris needed size, strength, length, and defensive versatility. He has the same abilities as some of the best defenders and rebounders in the game, a group that has the ability to play small ball or go big and switch. For example, a forward or center has the ability to protect a wing or a forward, such as a forward or center has the ability to protect a guard or a wing and a guard.
“Defense was definitely a priority and we needed players who could defend and lock down multiple sets within a possession,” he said. “The beauty of the FBA game is that you get to see a little bit of everything, you see big teams that are incredibly physical trying to beat you up and play an old-school style of play. …”
Booker, Holiday, Tatum, Leonard, Edwards, Adebayo, Embiid and Davis are strong defenders, as well as James, Durant and Curry.
What about injury and contingency plans?
Leonard missed the final eight games of the regular season due to inflammation in his right knee, and his availability for Game 1 of the Los Angeles Clippers' first-round series against Dallas is uncertain. What happens if Leonard or another player is unable to play due to injury?
“We've learned over the years that we need to make changes, that we have time in case something unexpected happens, that we have a contingency plan and that we have that in place at every position. “We've shown that,” Hill said. “We're going to keep it a secret internally. We hope that doesn't happen.
“Sometimes you have to expect the unexpected and learn to adapt and adjust. So we've kept that in mind as we've gone through this process and the playoffs are just around the corner. So we're very aware of that and we also have other options in case someone is unable to play for any reason. We have several available. ”
