LeBron James and Team USA and currently being given a significant amount of attention from the basketball community. After all, they are representing the United States at an international level and are looking to win the gold medal in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
This roster for Team USA has arguably the most accolades group of stars in NBA history. Just LeBron, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant add up for 10 championships. While it is really no surprise to hear that Team USA is favored to win the Olympics, they have not been doing as well as fans had expected in the exhibition games so far.
Although there could be several explanations for their lack of dominance against other countries, former NBA star Austin Rivers weighed in on the most likely explanation. With that being said, fans must certainly be interested in hearing what he had to say.
Austin Rivers thinks Team USA has no real chemistry
While Team USA most certainly has the greatest amount of talent and experience, it is important to keep in mind that these stars have rarely shared a basketball court together. On the other hand, the other National teams participating in the Olympics have been playing together for years.
As a result, the chemistry that Team USA has presently is insignificant compared to what the other teams may have built. Austin Rivers brought up this factor when discussing Team USA’s chances of winning the 2024 Paris Olympics. Rivers emphasized on the main differences between Team USA and other teams competing in the Olympics.
.@AustinRivers25 tells @PatMcAfeeShow that Team USA’s biggest challenge in the Olympics will be competing with “natural chemistry” 👀
“They know they can’t out-talent us. No one’s gonna do that.” pic.twitter.com/V27qnUfdmW
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 23, 2024
“All these teams are based on ball movement. Their whole game is predicated on ball movement. They know they can’t out talent us right. No one is going to do that….Their games are all predicated on ball movement and these guys have been playing with each other since they were like 12-13 years old. So they just have a natural chemistry about them that we cannot just come up with in a months time.”
Austin Rivers certainly makes a valid point. After all, the players on Team USA have barely shared the court together. Now, superstars are being asked to come off the bench and fulfill their duty as roleplayers. This should be a feeling that they are not accustomed to. As a result, the oldest player on Team USA has stepped up in the moments that mattered the most.
LeBron James continues to establish himself as one of the best players on Team USA
LeBron James’ elite play in the Olympics exhibition games so far has actually helped his case in the GOAT conversation. After all, being over 39 years old and still the most relied-on player on an all-star-level roster is quite shocking. The Lakers star is the main reason that Team USA was able to get past South Sudan.
This upcoming Olympics will be a battle of talent and experience vs Chemistry and team building. If Team USA is able to make the most of the stars on its roster, it will still be favored to win the 2024 Paris Olympics and bring home the gold medal once again.