USA Basketball: Rising Above the Drama

As the USA Basketball team took to the court to begin their journey to the Paris Olympics, they did so with a few surprises. Two stars were injured and missing in action, another was quickly fouled out, and Grant Hill, the director of USA Basketball, faced tough questions about a last-minute roster change and allegations of sneaker company bias.

USA Basketball’s star-studded lineup

Despite the off-court distractions and on-court sloppiness, the Americans managed to pull off an 86-72 victory over Canada in their exhibition game on Wednesday night. The win was a comforting one, given the night’s challenges.

“It was a slow start, which wasn’t surprising,” Coach Steve Kerr said. “You could see the rust on the offensive end. A lot of turnovers in that first half, especially. But I love the defensive intensity and the work on the glass. We needed to set a tone for how we want to play, and I think we did that.”

The Medals! The Spectacle! Le Triomphe!

Just hours before tip-off, USA Basketball announced that Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard would be replaced by Boston Celtics guard Derrick White on the 12-man roster. According to the program’s statement, the decision to remove Leonard was jointly reached by USA Basketball, the Clippers, and Leonard due to ongoing concerns about his recent knee injury.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury woes

“Ultimately, he was sent home,” Hill said, noting the taxing logistics of the month-long Olympic run. “This is a sprint, not a ramp-up. We were open, honest, and understanding through it all. Your heart goes out to him. We have to do what’s best for the team, protect the team, and give ourselves the best opportunity for success. We just felt we had to pivot. We all tried. We gave it a valiant effort.”

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown seemed dissatisfied with the decision, implying on social media that Nike was behind his snubbing. Hill, however, said that his focus had been to “put together a team that complements each other, fits, and gives us the best opportunity for success.”

Jaylen Brown’s social media rant

The Game Itself

Without Leonard and Kevin Durant, who continues to nurse a minor calf injury, Kerr started LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, and Joel Embiid against Canada. The lineup stumbled out of the gate, falling into an 11-1 hole. James and Anthony Davis were both on the receiving end of hard fouls from the Canadians, who made up for their lack of size by forcing turnovers and playing aggressively.

Joel Embiid’s national team debut

Embiid fouled out midway through the third quarter of his national team debut, departing with just five points and six rebounds in 12 minutes. Curry helped relieve the pressure by hitting a three-pointer midway through the first quarter, and Anthony Edwards came out firing to lead the second unit and help the United States take a 41-33 halftime lead.

Curry’s timely three-pointer

The Canadians never mounted much of a counterpunch in the third quarter as the Americans gradually pressed their talent and depth advantages. Curry and James connected on a lob that drew a loud ovation from the crowd of 20,000, and Edwards finished with 13 points to lead all scorers.

Edwards’ impressive performance

A Special Visitor

Former President Barack Obama was in attendance, cheering on the team from a courtside seat near the television broadcasting crew. Dozens of former USA Basketball players were also recognized at midcourt during stoppages in play.

Obama’s motivational address

“He wants us to win,” Curry said of Obama. “That’s what the U.S. is known for.”

A Simple Mission

As the Americans move forward in their Olympic run, they’ll be fueled by a simple yet powerful message from the former President: win.