LAS VEGAS — Never one to shy away from a superstar challenge or a soundbite, Dillon Brooks had a message for LeBron James, Stephen Curry and the rest of the U.S. team ahead of Wednesday's Olympic exhibition game between Team USA and Team Canada.
The Canadians are coming again.
“I'm just taking it as it is, but I want to show who I am,” Brooks, the Houston Rockets guard who helped Canada win its first medal (bronze) at the FIBA World Cup last September when it beat the United States, told reporters late Monday night. “So I'm ready to play. Canada is ready to play. We're going to give it our all and then we'll watch the film after the game and see if we've improved.”
As if this budding international rivalry wasn't intriguing enough already, Brooks' involvement takes it to another level with his long and ignominious history with the U.S. team's two biggest stars. Brooks' feud with Curry's Golden State Warriors during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies was always going to be contentious, as was his time with James' Los Angeles Lakers with both the Grizzlies and Rockets, where he's never gone head-to-head with the game's best player.
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To hear Brooks speak, his well-known competitive spirit will reach new heights with the inclusion of the top two U.S. athletes, and after all, no one can blame him for believing the Canadians played a key role in upgrading the U.S. roster for this Olympic challenge.
The day after Canada beat the United States in the bronze medal game, Brooks scored 39 points and the US, the favorite to win, went home without making it onto the medal stand. Athletic Not only is James committed to the U.S. national team, he's also reportedly leading the recruitment drive for other top players, with Curry at the top of the list, so Brooks was asked if the unique dynamic at play right now might have him more motivated than ever.
“Well, the U.S. rookies voiced their desire to play (after the bronze medal game),” he said, “so I'm happy they're going to play because we'll get to pit our talent against them, and it should be a fun match.”
Who comes to mind?
“Steph and LeBron started speaking up first, and then other guys started joining in,” Brooks continued. “I'm glad they made the commitment, so we'll see what happens. It's talent versus talent.”
“They have to defend. They have to play defense. That's my main job. Every team that plays us has to defend, they have to scout us, and then we just play our game and make adjustments as the game goes on.”
Team USA is the obvious Olympic favorite, but Canada isn't short on talent. From Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (who finished second in MVP voting last season) to Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray to the Thunder's Lou Dort, Team Canada is not only formidable but also fundamentally sound. With Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez at the helm, the team has achieved roster stability of late, which bodes well for international play. And, as Brooks made clear, the Americans are the team's biggest threat to their goals going forward.
“The belief was always there, we just had to put it together,” Brooks said. “We have a team now that is full of players who are committed and motivated to grow the team every summer and develop the teamwork and camaraderie.”
“Last year was our time, and this year is our time, but we want the gold medal, not the bronze medal.”
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(Photo: Jam Sta Rosa/AFP via Getty Images)
