Steve Kerr Issues Stern Warning To Team USA Ahead Of Serbia Clash

Team USA has looked every bit the odds-on favorite thus far at the 2024 Olympic men's basketball tournament in Paris. But head coach Steve Kerr doesn't want the squad to rest on its laurels.

The U.S. cruised to a 122-87 win over Brazil on Tuesday to set up a date with Serbia in the semifinals.

Kerr delivered a stern message to Team USA ahead of the team's penultimate contest in the summer games.

"We can't get lulled to sleep because we beat them twice," Kerr said. "We have to be prepared for their best effort. We've got to think about what are they going to do differently. Jokic, I guess he could play 40 minutes. What else do they have up their sleeve?"

The Americans handily dispatched Team Serbia twice last month. But Kerr remains wary that Serbia could come ready with adjustments in their all-or-nothing face-off.

Team USA won both of their recent matchups against Serbia by 26 points. The first came on July 17 in an exhibition match, 105-79. The second was during their group stage clash 11 days later, 110-84.

Despite the U.S. undeniably having the most stacked Olympic basketball roster, Serbia arguably has the best player in the tournament.

Nikola Jokic, who leads his team in every statistical category, is both literally and figuratively Team USA's biggest threat for Olympic gold.

If the reigning NBA MVP somehow carries Serbia to an upset of the U.S., one has to wonder if Jokic will finally break his silence and talk to the media in the Olympics .

Related: Nikola Jokic's Teammate Had Blunt Explanation For MVP Ignoring Media At Olympics