Is Team USA Basketball Ready for the Paris Olympics?

Team USA forward LeBron James (6) takes the ball up-court during the first half of an exhibition basketball game against Canada in Las Vegas on July 10, 2024. (Steve Marcus/AP Photo)

Team USA had another scare against an underdog opponent in an Olympic warm-up game, and the team needed NBA star LeBron James to bail them out.

Two days after edging Sudan 101-100 on a layup by James with eight seconds left, the United States edged Germany 92–88 at London’s O2 Arena on Monday. James, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, scored the final 11 points against the German, but the U.S., suddenly looks vulnerable to compete for a gold medal in the Paris Olympics next week.

“It was a good test for us. And I’m glad we were able to once again, you know, keep our composure, persevere like we did the other day versus South Sudan,“ James, who will carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremonies for the Olympics, told USA Basketball after the game. ”It was a good win for us.”

The United States finished its exhibition slate 5–0, but they faced several stern tests, and the competition will get even tougher when they travel to France for the Olympics.

The Americans beat Canada 86-72 in the USA Basketball Showcase, which began on July 10 as warmup games for the Olympics. Five days later, Australia gave the United States a tough game before losing 98–92. On July 17, the United States rolled past Serbia 105–79. Then, James was the difference in the final two victories over Sudan and Germany.

The United States played those warmup games without Kevin Durant, a three-time gold medalist dealing with a calf strain. Durant is expected to return to the team when it opens Olympic play against Serbia on July 28.  The Americans also play South Sudan on July 31 and finish group play against Puerto Rico on Aug. 3.

“I think we can get a lot better,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said in his postgame news conference after beating Germany. “We’re getting to a place now where we are comfortable with rotations and I think guys are getting familiar with each other. But we can do a lot of things better. I thought our passing was not great tonight. They put a lot of defensive pressure on us and we turned it over a few times. I think we can tighten up our game and get better.”

Kerr has led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA titles (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022). His assistant coaches consist of Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (Los Angeles Clippers), and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat).

The United States is the overwhelming favorite to win the gold medal in Paris with an experienced roster.

In addition to James and Durant, the U.S. team features Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).

The players on the roster have a combined 11 Olympic appearances, won 10 Olympic gold medals, and earned three FIBA World Cup titles. Overall, the United States will take 12 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs, and six NBA champions to Paris—a daunting matchup against any opponent.

Last summer, the quartet coached the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Manila.

However, opposing teams appear to be game-planning for the United States by slowing the game down and trying to retain possession to keep the ball out of the hands of the talented Americans.

“We’ve had every experience,” Curry said at a press conference at the end of the USA Basketball Showcase. “It doesn’t matter, obviously showing up when the lights are bright. I think we’re ready, I think we’re prepared. It’s just we have to perform and that’s obviously the challenge.”

Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP with the Philadelphia 76ers, is also not worried about the two close calls at the end of the USA Basketball Showcase. He is confident the team will be ready when the real games begin in Paris.

“Every season, it takes me a couple of games to get going, so this was nothing different,” Embiid said after the game against Germany. “That’s the reason why we got preseason games. I felt like myself. As we keep going, I’m gonna be playing at my MVP level.”

Canada is the second favorite behind the United States and has a talented roster led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 30.1 points per game in his second NBA season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Canadians also have Jamal Murray, who helped lead the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA Championship in the 2022-2023 season. This past year, Murray averaged 21.2 points over 59 games.

The host country, France, is the third favorite and is led by 7-foot-4 center Victor Wembanyama, along with NBA stars Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers). Those players are expected to be a huge draw for the local fans.

Serbia is the fourth favorite this summer and features NBA star Nikola Jokić from the Nuggets. Jokić last competed in the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, where he won silver after losing to the United States in the final. Jokić has earned six NBA All-Star selections and won the Most Valuable Player Award in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. Other key players for Serbia include Bogdan Bogdanović (Atlanta Hawks) and Vasilije Micić (Charlotte Hornets).