The 2024 USA Men’s Basketball Olympic team might be comprised of some of the biggest names in professional basketball, including LeBron James, Steph Curry, Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant — but as past shortcomings and assumptive notions have taught us (the 2004 USA Men’s Basketball Olympic team comes to mind), talent and big name players alone don’t guarantee Gold Medals in the Olympic Games (and aren’t as important as overall team synergy and cohesiveness). It’s a sentiment which USA Basketball Men’s Olympic team guard Steph Curry recognized following Team USA’s narrow 92-88 exhibition victory over Franz Wagner and Team Germany on Monday in London.
“I’ve learned we’re beatable if we don’t execute the details of what teams know they have to do to beat usโthe extra possessions, not taking care of the ball, fouling too much,” Curry told reporters after the win. “It has nothing to do with our offensive game. Obviously, Bron has been taking over the fourth quarter and giving us a huge bump.”
LeBron James TOOK OVER down the stretch in #USABMNT's win against Germany ๐บ๐ธ
๐ 20 PTS (11 in 4Q)
๐ 6 REB
๐ 4 AST
๐ 8-11 FGM pic.twitter.com/uCX2DDzWeU— NBA (@NBA) July 22, 2024
Curry is referring to how Team USA, who was trailing to Germany in the fourth quarter, was bolstered by the excellent play of LeBron James, who took over in the game’s final minutes to secure the win. James finished with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks while shooting 8/11 from the field and 2/2 from three-point land.
Curry, who seeks to secure his first Gold Medal, finished the game with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and a block on 5/13 shooting from the field and 1/7 from three point range, admits that the Team USA Men’s Basketball game hasn’t yet fully clicked on offense and that there’s definite room for improvement heading into the actual Olympic Games in Paris.
“We haven’t played our best offensive game yet,” Curry added. “When we lock in defensively and we rebound, nobody can really beat us.”
What are your thoughts on how Steph Curry admits what USA Basketball Men’s Olympic team needs to improve on after their latest exhibition win? Are you looking forward to the USA Basketball Men’s Olympic team playing in the Olympic Games in Paris? Let us know in the comments.
