Since the 2004 disgrace, Team USA has run roughshod over the Olympics. Boasting a 29-1 record, the team has been near perfect, barring a meaningless group-stage loss. This year might be the same as a jam-packed crew of all-time greats suit up for a final swansong.
Featuring the greatest players of our generation Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, the team is bursting at the seams with star power. But, with so many greats on the roster, the question for Coach Steve Kerr is different. Which five make it to the official starter class?
Projected Starting Lineup for Team USA
Forward: LeBron James
First, let’s get the confirmation and evidence out of the way. According to reports, James will play the pseudo-Point role he has for much of his career. His inclusion as arguably the most decorated athlete in NBA history was a no-brainer.
With his combination of success and experience, LeBron James is a surefire hit on the squad. While not the mind-numbing defender he once was, ala Redeem Team 2008, LBJ is the best passer on the squad. As a result, his inclusion should ensure a smooth operation on the offensive end.
Guard: Stephen Curry
Secondly, Stephen Curry has all but been confirmed as a starter on the team. The greatest shooter God ever created offers a court-warping gravity that no other player can. Moreover, the efficacy of a LeBron-Curry offense is a virtual guarantee.
Steph should fit seamlessly alongside James as a keen playmaker with a high basketball IQ. His ball-handling and off-the-bounce movement will alleviate some of James’s burden.
Guard: Jrue Holiday
A controversial pick by most standards, Jrue Holiday, has to play the Draymond Green role. A versatile defender with savvy basketball instincts, the two-time NBA Champion is the workhorse every team needs.
Given the age of the stars on the starting lineup, someone like Jrue is the perfect player to handle the “dirty work.” Moreover, as arguably the best perimeter defender in the world, he ensures that the team isn’t lacking on the other side of the ball. On the other end, Holiday is also coming off the best shooting season of his career.
Further, he was equally as effective in the playoffs, shooting over 40% from distance in the Boston Celtics run to the title.
Forward: Kevin Durant
Another virtual guarantee in the lineup is that Kevin Durant is among the best scorers in NBA history. A guaranteed bucket, his fit alongside Curry created an unbeatable superteam. In addition, even an aging LeBron James essentially guarantees victory.
Lethal creating for himself and as a catch-and-shoot specialist, Durant could feast on the pitch-perfect passes from James. Moreover, on the defensive side of the ball, while not elite, KD has become a fantastic rim protector/shot blocker.
Center: Joel Embiid
The 2022 NBA MVP was on pace for the highest scoring output this side of Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant. As a Center, Joel Embiid is among the best mid-range shooters in the game, regardless of position.
But, even more importantly, his shot-blocking and defense make him invaluable on the squad. The main concern with JoJo, as always, is health. But, with Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo sitting in the reserves, the workload on Embiid shouldn’t be as high.
For a team brimming with talent, the accurate fit is an essential mark for Team USA. Regardless of star power, the team needs to be elite on both ends, with competition from the world rising. As a result, a workhorse like Jrue Holiday should negate any defensive lacking.
In James, the team gets a top-three passer in the game’s history, and with spending shooting all-around him in the form of Curry and Durant, the team has no shortage of scoring options. That is without mentioning a scoring leader and 30-points-per-game maestro in Embiid, whose defense might be the biggest asset on this team.
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