The United States is on a mission. The disappointment of the World Cup in China, where Spain finished as champions, is forcing a team historically designed not only to win, but to sweep the court. More and more teams are looking at the Americans as equals, who are not afraid of those who seemed like gods for decades, who see themselves as capable of competing against them.
31 years after that Dream Team that swept Barcelona, with Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bird, Robinson, Pippen and Ewing, among others, the situation is totally different. The stars have become youngsters with illusion. Certainty becomes expectation.
It seems almost impossible to emulate those rosters of 1992, 2008 or 2012, when the world’s biggest stars shared a uniform for a few weeks in the quest for the gold medal. For several tournaments now, this gap has been filled by players who, although they are stars and among the most prominent on the planet, have a low profile and do not hog the spotlight so much.
LeBron, Durant, Harden, Curry and company have been replaced by hungry youngsters, players who want to prove themselves beyond their borders and have fun in championships who have only played in international competitions at youth level. Every roster introduces a new debut, every game introduces new systems.
Amidst the doubts and the transition from the NBA, the less experienced players take the lead. A team led by names such as Anthony Edwards, Brandon Ingram, Jalen Brunson and Paolo Banchero, among others, whose mission is to recover the lost honor of the United States.
Looking back at history, individuals have been the protagonists of decades of World Cups and Olympic Games. Unrelenting star power translated into the ease of winning every game without breaking a sweat. This year promises to be different. With a relatively small sample size, as the United States has only played Puerto Rico in preparation (117-74), it seems that Steve Kerr, commander from the bench, will go for teamwork.
It may be, before putting the focus on the players, the first time that there are more names on the bench than on the court. Steve Kerr, one of the best coaches in history, is joined by Tyronn Lue, current coach of the Clippers, who replaced Monty Williams, Erik Spoelstra and Mark Few who changed the history of Gonzaga University and is the spiritual leader of the Bulldogs, one of the best schools in the country. Seven rings on the bench.
Several names stand out
The hydra, the multi-headed monster, that the American team presents is led by Anthony Edwards who, despite his 22 years of age, is already a proven performer in the league. The shooting guard, number 1 in the 2020 Draft, was an oasis in the desert in Minnesota, a certainty in the absolute chaos of the Timberwolves.
He was the leading scorer in the game against the Puerto Rican team, with 15 points, as was Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson. Being the most anarchic player of the group, when he has the ball in his hands, he is a difference maker. He averaged 24.6 points and 5.8 rebounds in 79 games last season.
Continuing with youth, perhaps the most interesting case is that of Paolo Banchero. The former Duke player, rookie of the year after a sensational season in Orlando, chose to play for the United States instead of Italy, which caused quite a stir in the Mediterranean country. Maturity and adaptation have been his hallmarks since he began to stand out in high school.
At 20 years old, he has already excelled with the older players, with whom he has dominated for years. Banchero has a chance to take a leap forward, even further, and confirm himself as one of the league’s best players in his second year in the NBA.
Looking on the veteran side, Brandon Ingram (25 years old) and Brunson (26) will both be solid. The latter, along with Tyrese Haliburton, promises to be Kerr’s wingman on the court. The forward, formerly of the Lakers, has taken the helm of a disoriented Pelicans without Zion. The latter, in a new landscape such as New York, where the spotlight shines brighter, confirmed the good feelings gathered in his last games in Dallas.
Looking further at the roster, it is interesting to note what role players like Mikal Bridges and Jaren Jackson, two of the best defenders in the league, can do, who will drive the team from their own basket, or Cam Johnson who can be the big surprise.
Players for a more specific role could be Walker Kessler, a 22-year-old center for the Utah Jazz who was one of the best shot-blockers in the NCAA with Auburn and has been one of the best at protecting the rim in Salt Lake City, and it looks like he will play for specific systems, and Austin Reaves who emerged in the playoffs as an energy and points guy who will contribute off the bench.
On 25 August, the road to redemption begins, to regain what seems to be theirs. The United States wants to dominate again and, although they may not have a very recognizable team, the talent is still there, and they are the favorites to conquer the world.
