If it weren't for March Madness, Team USA's true identity might have been revealed much earlier.
The Americans will send out 12 star players, breaking from the past practice of having the 12 NBA players who represent the U.S. basketball team at the Olympics and FIBA World Cup try out at summer minicamps or at least be unveiled after the NBA season. The impact on the Paris Olympics is already known, with Managing Director Grant Hill making the announcement on NBC's “The Today Show” on Wednesday.
And if Hill hadn't taken another job as lead color commentator during the NCAA men's basketball tournament that concluded in Phoenix nine days ago, superstars LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid and Kawhi There is also a possibility that he will become a member of this American national team, which has . Leonard would have been announced sooner.
“We knew,” Hill said on a video call. The Athletic Several other media outlets regularly cover USA Basketball. “We just knew this was the team we wanted. … Why wait?
Yes, such a strong group of talent, not to mention Olympic gold medals, NBA championships, and a dizzying array of NBA MVP and All-Star appearances, wanted to play at the Paris Games, and they did. If it's being worked on now, why wouldn't Team USA, and NBC, America's broadcast partner for the Olympics, want to take advantage of it?
The lineup Hill has assembled is comparable to a dream team.
- Durant is the all-time leading scorer for USA Basketball's men's team. He won three gold medals, tying the program record (men's). He is a two-time NBA champion and former MVP.
- James has won two gold medals, is the program's all-time leader in assists, is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and all-time leader in All-Star Game appearances.
- Although Curry has no Olympic gold medals (he has two FIBA World Cup titles), he has won four NBA championships, two NBA MVP awards, and is the best shooter in NBA history.
- Leonard is a two-time NBA champion and two-time Finals MVP.
- Embiid is the current NBA MVP, although he has never played internationally.
But from another perspective, this is a sign of the strength of the American team. It's also possible that either James, Anthony or Davis won't start. The two most important players on the Tokyo Olympic gold medal team, Bam Adebayo and Jrue Holiday, could play bit parts, and coach Steve Kerr is relying on two scoring machines and Olympic gold medalists in Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker. You'll need to figure out how to incorporate it. In Tokyo — to rotation.
Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards, two of the NBA's brightest young stars and holdover players from the 2023 FIBA World Cup team, round out the roster. Holiday was the only player from the American 12 not to be named an NBA All-Star this season.
“I like the flexibility of this group. I like the character and maturity of this group,” Hill said. “If you look at the NBA, certainly the style of play in the NBA right now is very similar. A lot of teams are doing the same things and executing. It's different in the (international) game, so you have to respect that. We have to be prepared for it, and we have to have the talent and skill set to compete with it.”
Team USA has won four consecutive Olympic gold medals, but has struggled considerably in the past two FIBA World Cups. Part of the reason is that A-level American NBA stars have generally lost interest in playing in those events (but not the Olympics), and USA Basketball has lost interest in playing in those events (but not the Olympics), and USA Basketball has , and is even sending a team of role players to the Olympics. The last two World Cups ended in disappointing results.
But even with that handicap, Hill and Kerr learned some tough lessons about roster building in international play. The main reason was that the 2023 U.S. National Team was too small and couldn't rebound or defend, causing the U.S. National Team to lose three of its final four World Cup games and finish in fourth place.
With the current U.S. roster (yes, things could change), size and strength in the post and overall defense are fine.
Kerr could potentially have Leonard, Holiday, Davis and Adebayo on the floor at the same time. All four are considered among the best defenders in the world. Embiid, who is 7 feet tall and shoots 3s, and Davis, who is 6 feet 10 years old and prefers four-man play rather than five-man play, could very well end up in the same starting lineup.
In last summer's World Cup semifinal against Germany, the United States lost by two points, but Johannes Voigtmann, who is 6-11 and does not play in the NBA, grabbed one of the seven rebounds and used one arm to hit Josh Hart. I threw it away. in the air and on the ground. Hart, a relentless competitor, is still 6-4 and shouldn't play as a power forward in FIBA games, but that's where he started for most of the World Cup.
Voigtman won't be able to do that to the American power forward this summer. Because they're either Davis or James.
“We have guys that have (defensive versatility) as a foundation and also understand the physicality (of FIBA),” Hill said. “This game is much more physical than the NBA game. So it was important to be conscious of that and have players at that level, on the defensive end and offensive end, to translate the game.
“It’s not a blow to any team we’ve had, but we’re excited about the defensive potential of this group.”
Hill said USA Basketball's board of directors approved the U.S. squad two to three weeks ago, and the official announcement of the team this week will take place between the U.S. Olympic Committee's media summit in New York and the start of the Paris Games. Matched the day separator.
Also this week, the NBA Playoffs (a grueling two-month battle for teams that advance to the finals) begin on Saturday, and all but Curry (who the Golden State Warriors lost in Tuesday night's play-in tournament) among the USA12 Everyone is still playing. . Embiid, who has been sidelined for months recovering from knee surgery, will look to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to the play-in on Wednesday when Adebayo takes on the Miami Heat.
Leonard, who last accepted Team USA's offer, is battling a knee injury ahead of a first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. James, 39, led the Los Angeles Lakers to a play-in victory and is set for a first-round game against the Denver Nuggets.
All of these players could leave the postseason early, but their health is also questionable. Hill said each position on the roster has a contingency plan in case one of the 12 players is injured, although he declined to name names.
While Leonard was pondering the offer from America, The Athletic The No. 12 candidates if Leonard opts out are Paolo Banchero, Paul George, Mikal Bridges, and Jalen Brunson.
Meanwhile, Hill said Team USA will begin video calls with players and coaches as a group before training camp begins on July 5.
Hill traveled across the country last week, surprising players with formal offers and USA jerseys. While in Boston, he visited Tatum and Holliday's home. When Tatum opened the door, he was greeted by Hill and the film crew. He accepted this with a hug. This was a great gesture between two Duke University alumni.
Jrue Holiday's wife, former US soccer player Lauren Holiday, had already let Hill and a film crew into the house when she sent one of the couple's young daughters to look for her father behind the house. . Holliday showed up nursing a lollipop and she said, “I'd love to.”
(Grant Hill Photo: Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
