Even after witnessing LeBron James’ overwhelming performance in four NBA Finals encounters, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr found it difficult to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
During Team USA’s initial practice ahead of the Paris Olympics, which occurred nearly three weeks ago, Steve Kerr admired LeBron James’ dedication as the 39-year-old actively participated in every drill and scrimmage with full intensity. “I was amazed by his commitment to practice,” Kerr remarked.
Kerr’s admiration carries weight, given his coaching experience against James when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 Finals against Kerr’s Golden State Warriors. Kerr then sought insights from his Team USA assistant coaches who had previously coached James during his stints with the Miami Heat (Erik Spoelstra) and the Cavs (Tyronn Lue).
Kerr inquired if this was typical. Both Lue and Spoelstra responded affirmatively, saying it happens every day. James continued to compete at that level despite not necessarily needing more accolades to bolster his legacy. With four NBA championships, he is already a leader in scoring and has earned two Olympic gold medals in Beijing (2008) and London (2012).
What importance does James place on shortening his offseason, even at the cost of reduced recovery time and potentially missing the opportunity to witness his son, Bronny, make his NBA debut at the California Classic in San Francisco on Saturday?
“I’m maintaining my performance at a top level. My passion for basketball is as strong as ever,” James remarked. “Team USA has treated me well, so I thought it was crucial to join them this summer, compete alongside my teammates, and represent Team USA. It’s always been a lot of fun.”
Similar to his NBA career, James doesn’t need to prove he can succeed on the grandest stage. Just as in his NBA career, James can continuously achieve more to solidify his place among the legends.
James opted out of the last two Olympic games to rest after a draining NBA Finals in 2016 and back-to-back compressed seasons during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. He now has a chance to match Michael Jordan’s two Olympic gold medals and close in on Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant, who each have four. Additionally, James aims to strengthen his standing in two statistical categories. While Durant could set a new Olympic record with five gold medals, James hopes to narrow the scoring gap. Durant currently leads in all-time points for USA Basketball with 435, followed by Anthony with 336 and James with 273. James holds the record for all-time assists with 88, surpassing Chris Paul.
Team USA features several top scorers like Durant, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker, along with sharpshooters such as Stephen Curry and dominant big men like Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis. With this lineup, James has a strong chance to surpass one hundred career Olympic assists.
James emphasized his readiness to adapt to any role the team requires, whether scoring heavily or facilitating assists. He noted the advantage of playing alongside potentially eleven other future Hall of Famers, allowing him to focus on the game and contribute as needed.
Coach Steve Kerr confirmed that Kawhi Leonard participated fully in recent practices, marking a reassuring return after Leonard’s absence due to knee inflammation during the NBA season. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum missed a session for personal reasons but is expected to rejoin the team soon.
Regarding Team USA’s starting lineup, James dismissed speculation about coming off the bench and expressed readiness to fulfill any role assigned by Coach Kerr. Kerr, for his part, emphasized that no decisions had been finalized yet, with plans to experiment with different combinations during exhibition games against various international teams.
Overall, Kerr acknowledged the challenge of selecting starters from a roster full of stars and future Hall of Famers, emphasizing the need to balance individual talents with team dynamics.
Team USA has several top scorers like Durant, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker, along with sharpshooters such as Stephen Curry, and dominant big men like Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis. This setup gives James a solid opportunity to achieve a high number of assists throughout his Olympic career.
“I’m ready to play whatever role the team needs,” James explained. “Whether it’s scoring heavily or distributing assists, I’m prepared to step up. I always strive to adapt my game to meet the team’s requirements and support their goals. That approach remains consistent regardless of the team I’m playing with.”
“It should be straightforward for me. When you’re playing alongside up to 11 future Hall of Famers, you can relax and let the game unfold naturally.”
Kerr mentioned that Kawhi Leonard took part in all Saturday’s practice sessions, including what he termed as “controlled scrimmages.” This update should reassure fans, especially since Leonard was absent from LA previously.
The LA Clippers missed Kawhi Leonard for their last eight regular-season games and Games 1, 4, and 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks due to inflammation in his right knee inflammation.
Kerr mentioned that Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics skipped Saturday’s session due to “personal reasons” and is anticipated to be back for Monday’s session.
James jokingly scolded a reporter who speculated about him possibly being a bench player. He emphasized his readiness to fulfill any role that Coach Kerr and the team require. While it’s likely that James, Durant, and Curry will start, Kerr emphasized that no final decisions have been made yet, acknowledging it as a pleasant challenge to have in basketball.
“We intend to experiment with various combinations,” Kerr explained. “Currently, we aren’t focused on identifying specific stars. Our priority is bringing everyone together.”
Everybody understands this is a very unique situation,” Kerr said. “There are all not only starters, but superstars and future Hall-of-Famers. They all deserve to start. But only five can. We’ll figure it out.”
