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Tag: Mark Few

  • LeBron, Steph, Embiid headline scary superstar US Olympic squad as juggernaut eyes fifth-straight gold

    LeBron, Steph, Embiid headline scary superstar US Olympic squad as juggernaut eyes fifth-straight gold

    LeBron James, Stephen Curry and reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid were named among a 41-strong player pool for the USA’s 2024 Olympics basketball roster this week.

    The star-studded roster will be whittled down to a 12-man squad for this summer’s Olympics in Paris, where the US will be chasing a fifth consecutive gold medal.

    The provisional player pool contains 28 players who have represented the USA at an Olympics or FIBA World Cup, with 23 gold medals between them.

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    LeBron James and Kevin Durant have both been named in the2024 Olympics USA extended squad (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

    The 39-year-old James will be chasing a third gold medal in what will be his first appearance at an Olympics since the 2012 London Games.

    “The United States boasts unbelievable basketball talent and I am thrilled that many of the game’s superstars have expressed interest in representing our country at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games,” USA Basketball men’s national team managing director Grant Hill said in a statement.

    “It is a privilege to select the team that will help us toward the goal of once again standing atop the Olympic podium.

    “This challenging process will unfold over the next several months as we eagerly anticipate the start of national team activity.” Philadelphia 76ers star Embiid is set to play for the United States for the first time after pledging his allegiance to the squad last October.

    The Cameroon-born superstar was eligible to play for the country of his birth, France and the United States, but opted for a US squad which will enter the Olympics as overwhelming gold medal favourites.

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    The team will be coached by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, with Gonzaga University’s Mark Few, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Tyronn Lue and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acting as assistants.

    USA Basketball also announced plans for pre-Olympic Games in Las Vegas and London.

    The US will play Canada in Las Vegas on July 10, before exhibition games against South Sudan on July 20 and Germany on July 22 at London’s O2 Arena.

    USA basketball 2024 Olympics player pool: Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, Alex Caruso, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid, De’Aaron Fox, Paul George, Aaron Gordon, Tyrese Haliburton, James Harden, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Jrue Holiday, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Ingram, Kyrie Irving, Jaren Jackson Jr., LeBron James, Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Trae Young.

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  • World Cup favourites United States suffer scare against Montenegro

    World Cup favourites United States suffer scare against Montenegro

    The United States were “ice cold” and produced “the worst shooting performance we’ve seen” but claimed a 85-73 win over Montenegro in their huge World Cup clash on Friday night.

    The World No. 2 ranked US side stacked with NBA talent came into the second-round group game with a perfect 3-0 record and a huge favourite to win gold.

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    Montenegro, a lowly 18th in the FIBA rankings coming into the tournament, reached the second round with a 2-1 record, beating Mexico and Egypt before a heavy loss to Lithuania.

    All of that was thrown out the window in a physical first half in Manila.

    The European side, which is led by Chicago Bull Nikola Vucevic, took the fight right up to the Americans.

    Walker Kessler (left) throws down a dunk in the moment right before Marko Simonovic threw an elbow at the American. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)Source: AFP

    That included an elbow thrown by Montenegro’s Marko Simonovic into the stomach of US big man Walker Kessler late in the first half.

    Simonovic was hit with an unsportsmanlike foul before the underdogs were also hit with a tech foul as the wheels threatened to fall off their hot start.

    “An unsportsmanlike foul has been called on Simonovic,” FIBA commentator Jeff Taylor said during the game. “Completely uneccessary.

    “And now there’s a technical foul as well and all of a sudden, the USA’s toughest challenge of this World Cup has gone off the rails completely.

    “Montenegro with a lack of emotional discipline. Simonovic just swung his right elbow into his side.

    “I don’t think you should ever throw an elbow. There’s too big a risk.”

    Instead of it rattling the Montenegrins, however, they finished the half strong and took a shock 38-37 lead into the main break.

    It led to US assistant coach Mark Few to yell “let’s get some fire in our eyes” during the halftime break.

    The second round is not a knockout round at the World Cup, with teams moved into new groups, where the top two progress to the quarter-finals.

    Part of the issue for the Americans was some horrid shooting from the floor in that first half.

    That included hitting just one of their nine three-point attempts in an effort that should give the rest of the teams in the tournament some hope.

    “Wow. USA overall are shooting well from the line, but shooting below 50% inside the arc and shooting 35% overall,” Taylor said.

    “Very un-USA-like.

    “This is the worst shooting performance from the USA that we’ve seen so far in this tournament. Ice cold 35% from the floor.

    The US struggled mightily from the field in the first half. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)Source: AFP

    “Unexpected I think from most people, Montenegro leading at halftime 38-37 over the USA in the opening game of the second round for both teams.

    “Montenegro will be in the locker room talking about the great opportunity they’ve got to spring an upset and get probably the biggest win in their history.”

    The European side kept up the pressure early in the second half, stretching the lead to five points in the early exchanges.

    But the Americans gradually fought their way on top, with some vastly improved shooting helping them to a 24-17 third quarter for a five-point edge at the last break.

    Montenegro kept fighting, but the US were too composed down the stretch as they avoided the huge upset, 85-73.

    “A real battle won by the USA today. It was not easy at all,” Taylor said in closing.

    “Montenegro, when they look back at this, maybe a couple of shots away at key parts of the game from this one being different.

    “This was an awkward game for the USA.

    “I wonder what other teams may have learned from this.”

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