At 39, LeBron James is the oldest player on the latest iteration of the U.S. men’s national basketball team. At this stage of his career, even though his skills remain as sharp as ever, he should be taking a backseat to the younger, more explosive players on the team. Yet, as renowned analyst Zach Lowe points out on NBA Today, LeBron has been the go-to guy for Team USA during their exhibition games leading up to the Paris Olympics.
Needed LeBron in crunchtime
The Americans finished their series of exhibition games with a perfect 5-0 mark. However, don’t let that unblemished record fool you, as Team USA got thoroughly tested by South Sudan and Germany in the last two matches of the USA Basketball Showcase. Had it not been for “The King’s” crunchtime heroics in both games, experts would likely be bemoaning their weaknesses and predicting a potential upset in the upcoming Olympics.
Against the resilient South Sudan, LeBron sank the game-winning layup with seconds to go in the match, ultimately giving the U.S. a 101-100 victory. Then, versus Germany, vintage Bron showed up as he scored Team USA’s last 11 points to give them an 82-78 win. Lowe explained that the Los Angeles Lakers superstar has had to assert himself more in these games as the team struggled to find the mark from the much-shorter FIBA three-point arc.
“LeBron has been absolutely incredible. One of the reasons he's had to be incredible is that the U.S. team hasn't been generating enough threes. Germany took more threes in one game than the U.S. has taken combined in its last two games. This has forced LeBron to bully and flex his way to the rim, chiseling through tighter spaces,” the veteran journalist surmised .
“Remember, the FIBA three-point arc is a little shorter, making space a bit more cramped. The best option we've had has been to give the ball to LeBron and get out of his way,” Lowe continued.
In five exhibition games, the 20-time All-Star has been the Team USA’s leading scorer, averaging 14.6 points per game. Anthony Edwards is second on the team, averaging 13.0 points per outing, while Steph Curry is next at 12.4.
Have to find a way to produce points from the perimeter
Head coach Steve Kerr and his staff know LeBron can’t put on his cape in every game and try to win the gold by himself. With zone defenses allowed in FIBA play, opposing teams can easily pack the paint to stop drives to the basket, which means the three-point shot becomes even more crucial for Team USA’s success.
“To win these games, especially as the favorites, we're going to have to start generating more threes. The three-point variance can swing the other way, and that's what a lot of these teams are banking on. There's going to be a game or two where it will be close late, and someone will have to carry us over the finish line, just as LeBron has been doing,” Lowe uttered.
One thing to note, though, has been the absence of USA Basketball’s all-time leading scorer, Kevin Durant, who remains sidelined because of a calf strain. At 7 feet and with the skill set of a wingman, KD can easily shoot over any defender and flourish on the international stage.
“It would be incredibly helpful to have someone like Kevin Durant, maybe the greatest USA FIBA player of all time, healthy and in the starting five,” Lowe shared.
Team USA will kick off their Olympic stint with a game against legit contender Serbia, which has three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, on Sunday in Lille, France.
Related: Stephen A. Smith is worried about Team USA's dependence on LeBron James: "They ain't going to get it done in the Olympics"
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