Team USA head coach Steve Kerr had a stern message for his team following two near losses in their Olympic preparation games. ESPN's Brian Windhorst revealed that Kerr called out his players during a film session after lackluster performances against South Sudan and Germany.
"Yeah, so after the week in Abu Dhabi, where they really played well against Australia and Serbia, Team USA was wow. That is like the team that we thought they could be. This last week in London, it was like, huh. They need to get back to the wow."
"And that was what Steph Curry was talking about there, and also what Steve Kerr is trying to do. So my biggest thing with them right now, how will they respond to their coach challenging them? Because over the last couple of days, since the team arrived here in France, he has really kind of called them out in speaking to the media."
"And from what I understand in their film session and practice is he really thought that they didn't play with energy. And they didn't, you know, try to bring the up-tempo game that they need in the two games in London that they won but barely. Serbia on Sunday, maybe they're not in the top three in odds."
"In my view, Serbia is as strong of a contender for the gold medal as any other team. And Kerr is trying to get them to get back in gear, to play at their top level, at their highest speed, to act like this is the most competitive basketball tournament in the history of international basketball, which I believe that it is."
"And so how they respond to that challenge is to me a huge indication of how this Olympics is going to go for the Americans."
After a dominant start in Abu Dhabi, where Team USA played well against Australia and Serbia, the team's energy and intensity dipped during their London exhibition games. Kerr was concerned about the drop in performance and emphasized the need to return to their peak form.
Kerr criticized his team for their lack of energy and effort, particularly in their games against South Sudan and Germany. Against South Sudan, Team USA found themselves down by 14 points in the first half before narrowly escaping with a 101-100 victory. Similarly, they trailed Germany in the fourth quarter and needed LeBron James ' heroics to secure a 92-88 win.
In the film session, Kerr pointed out instances where players were jogging through possessions and not putting in the necessary effort on box outs. He made it clear that their current level of play would not be sufficient in the highly competitive Olympic tournament. Kerr emphasized that they needed to bring 40 minutes of force and focus in every game.
Despite their 5-0 record in exhibition games, Kerr knows that the real challenge lies ahead. Team USA's group-stage opponents include Serbia, Puerto Rico, and South Sudan. Each team presents its own set of challenges, particularly Serbia, led by reigning three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic .
Kerr's tough love is aimed at preparing his team for the intensity of Olympic competition. With stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry , and Joel Embiid on the roster, the potential is there, but Kerr wants to ensure that the effort matches the talent. He stressed that effort and energy are crucial for success in the tournament, and his message seems to have resonated with the players.
As Team USA prepares for their Olympic opener against Serbia, Kerr's call to action serves as a reminder that winning a gold medal requires maximum effort and focus. The team's response to Kerr's challenge will be a key indicator of their readiness to compete at the highest level.
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