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Posts tagged as “USA Basketball”

Steph Curry powers Team USA for a Gold Medal Finish Against France (98 – 87)

August 11, 2024

The USA Men’s Basketball team, led by Steph Curry, has won the Olympic gold medal at the 5×5 Basketball tournament. Curry scored a team-high 24 points, making 8-of-12 shots from the three-point line, and added 5 assists. Teammates Booker and Durant each scored 15 points apiece, while LeBron James contributed 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. James was also awarded the tournament’s MVP.

It was a dramatic finish for the Americans, as France mounted a comeback by scoring 7 straight points, cutting the United States’ 14-point lead to a single possession game, thanks to a Wembanyama tip-in. But then Steph Curry showcased his greatness with a dagger three-pointer, defended by two French players. He then celebrated with his trademark “Night night” gesture while returning on defense.

Victor Wembanyama led the French team with 26 points but lacked his usual defensive presence compared to the semi-finals against Germany. Guerschon Yabusele added 20 points for France, while no other player scored more than 9 points. Considering the number of young French players entering the NBA, future Olympic medal games could become regular showdowns between the USA, France, and Serbia.

Team USA defeats Germany, sweeping the USA Basketball Showcase (92 – 88)

July 23, 2024

Team USA defeats Germany to remain undefeated in all of their 5 exhibition games. It was a close game down the stretch where the Germans were able to cut the 7-point USA lead to just a 3-point deficit (87-84) via Daniel Theis’ alley-oop.

But that’s when LeBron James went to work and scored the next 5 points for Team USA, giving them an 8-point cushion heading into the final 45 seconds of the game.

Like in the previous games, 39-year-old LeBron James carried Team USA with 20 points playing just 18 minutes. He also added 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Joel Embiid added 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, but more than his offensive contribution, he was a monster on the defensive end. His block on Issac Bonga led to a monster slam by Anthony Edwards.

Orlando Magic’s Franz Wagner led Germany with 17 points and 8 rebounds, while Andreas Obst added 17, including five 3-pointers.

“I think we can get a lot better,” U.S. Coach Steve Kerr said. “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.”

Game Highlights

Olympics Men’s Basketball Schedule

Team USA is part of Group C of the 2024 Paris Olympics Men’s Basketball Tournament Groupings and they will open the tournament against Serbia on Sunday (28th July), then have a rematch with South Sudan on July 31st, and their last game to wrap up group play will be against Puerto Rico on August 3rd.

Team USA Women’s Basketball Roster for 2024 Paris Olympics now Official

June 12, 2024
Team USA Women’s Basketball Roster for 2024 Paris Olympics now Official

After being leaked a couple of days ago, the official roster for the Team USA Women’s Basketball for 2024 Paris Olympics have been officially announced.

As previously leaked and now official, below are the official roster of Team USA Women’s Basketball for 2024 Paris Olympics;

Player WNBA Team Position
Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx Forward
Kahleah Copper Phoenix Mercury Guard/Forward
Chelsea Gray Las Vegas Aces Guard
Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury Center
Sabrina Ionescu New York Liberty Guard
Jewell Loyd Seattle Storm Guard
Kelsey Plum Las Vegas Aces Guard
Breanna Stewart New York Liberty Forward
Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury Guard
Alyssa Thomas Connecticut Sun Forward
A’ja Wilson Las Vegas Aces Forward/Center
Jackie Young Las Vegas Aces Guard/Forward

USA Women’s National Team head coach Cheryl Reeve with the assistance of Kara Lawson, Joni Taylor and Mike Thibault.

Here is what USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee chair Jen Rizzotti said in the official statement;

“On behalf of USA Basketball, I’m excited to announce the 2024 USA Women’s National Team, We have selected a team that we are confident will represent our country to the highest standard in Paris. Basketball in the United States boasts unparalleled depth, making this a challenging and competitive process. The commitment these athletes have shown to USA Basketball is unmatched and I look forward to watching them take on the World in Paris.”

This is what USA Women’s National Team head coach Cheryl Reeve said regarding the roster;

“This roster features some of the best basketball talent our country has to offer and I’m excited to lead this team with the goal of winning an eighth straight Olympic gold medal in Paris, I’m looking forward to getting together in Phoenix and starting the journey to Paris.”

Team USA Women’s Basketball Roster for 2024 Leaked sans Caitlin Clark – Shams Charania

June 9, 2024

The roster for the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s National Team have been leaked. In a tweet, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that “Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark is expected to be left off the 12-player Team USA women’s basketball roster for the upcoming Summer Olympics”

Charania then added and named the 12 players in the roster. Except for Kahleah Copper, Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum and Alyssa Thomas. All other players have Olympic experience. Fans also pointed out that rookie phenom Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever is missing from the roster. Despite receiving an invitation to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team training camp last April, Iowa Hawkeyes standout Caitlin Clark couldn’t attend due to her team’s Final Four run.

Player WNBA Team Position
Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx Forward
Kahleah Copper Phoenix Mercury Guard/Forward
Chelsea Gray Las Vegas Aces Guard
Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury Center
Sabrina Ionescu New York Liberty Guard
Jewell Loyd Seattle Storm Guard
Kelsey Plum Las Vegas Aces Guard
Breanna Stewart New York Liberty Forward
Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury Guard
Alyssa Thomas Connecticut Sun Forward
A’ja Wilson Las Vegas Aces Forward/Center
Jackie Young Las Vegas Aces Guard/Forward

The final USA Women’s Basketball roster and list of potential alternates must be submitted to FIBA by June 24th. While no official announcement has been made by the USA Basketball on their official website or social media accounts.

USA Basketball announces the 41-members of the 2024 Men’s USA National Team Player Pool

January 25, 2024
USA Basketball announces the 41-members of the 2024 Men’s USA National Team Player Pool

USA Basketball, which is headed by USA Basketball executive director Grant Hill, just announced the 41-man pool for the 2024 Paris Olympics. After falling to Canada in the last FIBA World Cup 2023, which was held in Manila, USA Basketball will be fielding veterans and a newly naturalized American to win a fifth consecutive Olympic gold in Paris this summer.

The players named in the 41-player pool for the 2024 Men’s USA National Team are some of the biggest names in the sports, headlined by LeBron James, last played in the Olympics in 2012, and Stephen Curry, who has never played in the Olympics; and Joel Embiid, a Cameroon national but became a U.S. citizen in 2022.

In a tweet by the USA Basketball, all 41 players selected to the 2024 Men’s National Team Player Pool have a combined 13 Olympians, 22 World Cup participants, 24 Senior National Team gold medals and 18 Junior National Team gold medals, one of the most decorated player pool the USA Basketball have assembled.

Here are the complete list of the 41-player pool:

  1. Bam Adebayo – Miami Heat
  2. Jarrett Allen – Cleveland Cavaliers
  3. Paolo Banchero – Orland Magic
  4. Desmond Bane – Memphis Grizzlies
  5. Scottie Barnes – Toronto Raptors
  6. Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns
  7. Mikal Bridges – Brooklyn Nets
  8. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics
  9. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks
  10. Jimmy Butler – Miami Heat
  11. Alex Caruso – Chicago Bulls
  12. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors
  13. Anthony Davis – Los Angeles Lakers
  14. Kevin Durant – Phoenix Suns
  15. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves
  16. Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
  17. De’Aaron Fox – Sacramento Kings
  18. Paul George – Los Angeles Clippers
  19. Aaron Gordon – Denver Nuggets
  20. Tyrese Haliburton – Indiana Pacers
  21. James Harden – Los Angeles Clippers
  22. Josh Hart – Chicago Bulls
  23. Tyler Herro – Miami Heat
  24. Jrue Holiday – Boston Celtics
  25. Chet Holmgren – Oklahoma Thunders
  26. Brandon Ingram – New Orleans Pelicans
  27. Kyrie Irving – Dallas Mavericks
  28. Jaren Jackson Jr. – Memphis Grizzlies
  29. LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers
  30. Cam Johnson – Brooklyn Nets
  31. Walker Kessler – Utah Jazz
  32. Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers
  33. Damian Lillard – Milwaukee Bucks
  34. Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers
  35. Chris Paul – Golden State Warriors
  36. Bobby Portis – Milwaukee Bucks
  37. Austin Reaves – Los Angeles Lakers
  38. Duncan Robinson – Miami Heat
  39. Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics
  40. Derrick White – Boston Celtics
  41. Trae Young – Atlanta Hawks

The 41-player pool will then be reduced to 12-member team for the Paris Olympic Games, which will be announced as early as May or during the NBA Playoffs.

USA Basketball announces 35 Player Roster For 2018 – 2020 Men’s National Team

April 7, 2018

US Basketball just announced the 35 Player roster for this year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Here are the 35 players and their respective NBA team;

  1. Harrison Barnes – Dallas Mavericks
  2. Bradley Beal – Washington Wizards
  3. Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns
  4. Jimmy Butler – Minnesota Timberwolves
  5. Mike Conley Jr. – Memphis Grizzlies
  6. DeMarcus Cousins – New Orleans Pelicans
  7. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors
  8. Anthony Davis – New Orleans Pelicans
  9. DeMar DeRozan – Toronto Raptors
  10. Andre Drummond – Detroit Pistons
  11. Kevin Durant – Golden State Warriors
  12. Paul George – Oklahoma City Thunder
  13. Eric Gordon – Houston Rockets
  14. Draymond Green – Golden State Warriors
  15. Blake Griffin – Detroit Pistons
  16. James Harden – Houston Rockets
  17. Tobias Harris – Los Angeles Clippers
  18. Gordon Hayward – Boston Celtics
  19. Kyrie Irving – Boston Celtics
  20. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
  21. DeAndre Jordan – Los Angeles Clippers
  22. Kawhi Leonard – San Antonio Spurs
  23. Damian Lillard – Portland Trail Blazers
  24. Kevin Love – Cleveland Cavaliers
  25. Kyle Lowry – Toronto Raptors
  26. CJ McCollum – Portland Trail Blazers
  27. Khris Middleton – Milwaukee Bucks
  28. Victor Oladipo – Indiana Pacers
  29. Chris Paul – Houston Rockets
  30. Isaiah Thomas – Los Angeles Lakers
  31. Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors
  32. Myles Turner – Indiana Pacers
  33. Kemba Walker – Charlotte Hornets
  34. John Wall – Washington Wizards
  35. Russell Westbrook – Oklahoma City Thunder

The 2017-20 USA Basketball National Team coaching staff features USA head coach and San Antonio Spurs mentor Gregg Popovich.

Not to scare the competition but here’s some trivia about the 35-man team pool of the US Basketball;

  • The 35 players represent 20 NBA teams, with NBA champion Golden State Warriors featuring four players (Curry, Durant, Green and Thompson), while the Houston Rockets (Gordon, Harden and Paul) boast of a trio of players, and nine teams feature two players, including – Boston Celtics (Hayward and Irving), Cleveland Cavaliers (James and Love), Detroit Pistons (Drummond and Griffin), Indiana Pacers (Oladipo and Turner), Los Angeles Clippers (Harris and Jordan), New Orleans Pelicans (Cousins and Davis), Oklahoma City Thunder (George and Westbrook), Portland Trail Blazers (Lillard and McCollum) and Washington Wizards (Beal and Wall).
  • Eleven players were members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic gold medal team (Barnes, Butler, Cousins, DeRozan, Durant, George, Green, Irving, Jordan, Lowry and Thompson); seven were gold medalists on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team (Davis, Durant, Harden, James, Love, Paul and Westbrook); two were members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic gold medalist team (James and Paul); and one was part of the 2004 U.S. Olympic bronze medalist team (James).
  • Eight national team players were part of the gold medalist 2014 USA World Cup Team (Cousins, Curry, Davis, DeRozan, Drummond, Harden, Irving and Thompson) and five players were members of the 2010 USA World Championship team that won the title (Curry, Durant, Gordon, Love and Westbrook).
  • The roster includes the last two FIBA World Cup MVPs – 2014 MVP Irving and 2010 MVP Durant.
  • The 2018 NBA All-Star game featured 17 USA National Team players, including starters Curry, Davis, DeRozan, Durant, Harden, Irving, James and Westbrook; and reserves Beal, Drummond, George, Green, Lillard, Lowry, Oladipo, Thompson and Walker. Four additional players — Butler, Cousins, Love and Wall — also originally were selected to play in the ’18 All-Star game but were unable to participate due to injury.
  • Four members of the national team pool have won eight of the last nine NBA regular season MVP awards – Westbrook (2017), Curry (2015 and 2016), Durant (2014) and James (2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013).
  • Durant (2017), James (2012, 2013 and 2016) and Leonard (2014) have won five of the last six NBA Finals MVP awards.
  • Six USA National player have earned nine NBA All-Star MVP honors, including Davis (2017), Westbrook (2015 and 2016), Irving (2014), Paul (2013), Durant (2012) and James (2006, 2008 and 2018).
  • NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards have been presented to two USA National Team members – Green (2017) and Leonard (2015 and 2016).
  • McCollum (2015-16), Butler (2014-15), George (2012-13) and Love (2010-11) have collected NBA Most Improved award honors.