U.S. men’s Olympic basketball coach Steve Kerr is drawing inspiration from a sentiment once shared by Kobe Bryant, especially relevant as the team gears up for the Paris Games. Bryant emphasized that as other nations make strides in basketball, the U.S. must find ways to improve as well.
“Maybe we’ll show that one to the guys,” Kerr said. “I love that. And it has to be our attitude this summer.”
With the team seeking its fifth consecutive gold medal, the first practice session is set for Saturday, marking the start of a four-day training camp before their exhibition opener against Canada on Wednesday. Players began arriving in Las Vegas on Thursday, with Stephen Curry being the first to check in, highlighting his eagerness for his first Olympic appearance.
“I feel like it starts when it gets there, because that’s when you really see each other eye-to-eye,” said Bam Adebayo, aiming for his second gold medal after triumphing at the Tokyo Games three years ago. “You have those conversations, you have those many conversations within what we’re going through, what we’re trying to do. And that’s when it’s time to really be honest about what we want to do.”
The 12 players, familiar with each other for years, will begin the task of forming a cohesive team on Saturday. Kerr’s emphasis on continuous improvement and embracing the challenge of rising global competition sets the tone as they prepare to defend their title in Paris.
