LAS VEGAS — Team USA’s Olympic men’s basketball roster is so impressive, loaded with future Hall of Famers and NBA All-Stars, they’ll enter the 2024 Paris Games as the favorites to win a fifth consecutive gold medal.
They proved why on Wednesday with an 86-72 victory over Canada in an exhibition match at T-Mobile Arena, with former U.S. President Barack Obama sitting courtside.
Anthony Edwards led the U.S. with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, Stephen Curry added 12 points and made three 3-pointers, Anthony Davis was a force in the post with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and LeBron James added seven points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field.
RJ Barrett led Canada with 12 points and five rebounds.
“It was a good first game for us,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. “We’re still early in practice. We looked a little rusty offensively, especially with a lot of turnovers in the first half, but we showed good intensity defensively and did a good job rebounding. It was a good first game and we needed to set the tone for our play, and I think we did that.”
The U.S. team took a little time to find its rhythm early on, and while they had an incredible amount of talent on the court, it showed in their first competitive match as a team.
Bad turnovers and missed shots allowed Canada to fall behind 11-1 in the game.
Canada didn’t attempt a field goal until Curry’s 3-pointer nearly five minutes into the game and led 21-14 after the first quarter.
But the struggles didn’t last long. The Americans started the second quarter on a 7-0 run and never looked back. The second unit, led by Edwards and Davis, was the key to turning it all around.
“We started slow, which isn’t surprising because it’s still early days, but our second group was great,” Kerr said. “Then our defense picked up the pace in transition and we made some good plays to get our offense going and get in the game.”
The United States Basketball Association, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer, paid tribute to legends of the past by inviting members of medal-winning teams to attend in Las Vegas, including Patrick Ewing, John Stockton, Grant Hill, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony.
Obama, who spoke with his team before the game, was greeted with loud cheers as he made his way to his seat on the floor.
Curry said the former president’s “words were truly moving.”
“It was great to send us on this journey celebrating USAB’s 50th anniversary and what we’re going to be doing this summer,” Curry said. “I got goosebumps while he was talking. It makes you feel good about who you represent.”
The U.S. will try to win the gold medal again on July 28 when it faces Serbia, featuring former NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Unlike Wednesday night, this won’t be a relaxed game for the U.S.
James said unity will come over time.
“It’s easy to come together when you have a common goal, and our common goal is to play hard and win a gold medal,” he said. “It shouldn’t take long.”
