Team USA Articles - Page 37

Kevin Durant has had monstrous performances in this year’s Olympic games. He just recently passed LeBron James as the #2 all-time leading scorer for Team USA only behind Carmelo Anthony. Now en route to close out Spain for the finals, Durant reflects on how he feels his contribution have affected Team USA as a whole. “I told […]

Against Spain in an Olympic semifinal matchup, Team USA center DeAndre Jordan provided a spectacular putback dunk. The play came in the third quarter against arguably the Americans’ biggest international basketball rival. After Kyrie Irving drove to the basket and kicked it to the corner for a Klay Thompson three-point attempt, the ball hit off […]

Spain was almost in real trouble. Without Pau Gasol, Spain surely wouldn’t have had a prayer in its semifinal meeting with the United States today at 2:30 p.m. EST in the Rio Olympics semifinal game. Fortunately for the Spaniards, their big man will be good to go. Pau Gasol has been cleared to play vs […]

Kevin Durant isn’t taking Spain lightly because he’s seen this kind of team before. Not only when taking on the Spanish in the 2012 Olympic gold medal game, but during his NBA career KD says he’s familiar with the type of team the United States will see today in the semifinals. Via ESPN.com: Said Team […]

Spain’s Juan Carlos Navarro is keeping faith, and keeping notice. Navarro, a veteran of Spanish basketball, doesn’t see why his country won’t be able to have a chance at upsetting Team USA today in the semifinals of the Rio Olympics. Team USA has played three really close games and after losing the first two, Spain […]

The 2016 Rio Olympics are having a profound impact on Kevin Durant. Representing the United States is clearly having its effect on Durant, who recently spoke up about what he’s enjoying most about playing for Team USA in Rio. Via USA TODAY: “To see that, and to feel that unity (at the game) with all […]

Ricky Rubio knows it’s not going to be easy. Nearly impossible, actually. The point guard for Spain is looking to help his country pull off a monumental upset today in the semifinals of the Rio Olympics vs. Team USA. Rubio understands Spain will have to play practically perfect for it to happen. Via the Associated […]

In a more competitive Olympic Games this year, Team USA finds themselves in the semifinal round against Team Spain. The U.S. team has managed to remain undefeated so far, but a loss now would be at the worst time. In order to win Olympic gold, they must secure these next two wins in the tournament. […]

Harrison Barnes hasn’t found some consistent and relevant minutes in Team USA’s last three outings in the group stage, mainly due to the challenge that was brought up to them by their opponents. But in their rout of Argentina in the quarterfinals, the athletic forward finally got to run the floor a bit. His role […]

Entering the Rio Olympics, Kevin Durant was the undisputed best player for Team USA. He still is, and he proved that in their last game against Argentina. The team had a really tough stretch in the last three games of the group stages, casting doubt on whether this crop of NBA All-Stars can live up […]

It’s been an emotional ride for Pau Gasol and the rest of Spain‘s national men’s basketball team in the Rio Olympics. Gasol nearly skipped out on the games due to nagging injuries and a fear of the Zika virus. Eventually, the newest member of the San Antonio Spurs decided to make the trip. Then, Spain […]

During yesterday’s quarterfinal victory over Argentina, Kevin Durant caught fire. After a pair of subpar performances in the group stage, Durant let the loose, hitting 7-of-9 three-pointers while scoring 27 points. In the process, he became the second player on Team USA to surpass Michael Jordan on the all-time U.S. men’s Olympic scoring list. In […]

Nikola Mirotic is ready to face Team USA. Team USA struggled through the end of pool play at the Rio Olympics but escaped undefeated at 5-0. In the quarterfinals, the Americans looked much improved with a 105-78 dismantling of Argentina. Now Team USA must face a strong Spain teaming the semifinals. Before the game can […]

After the comments made by Carmelo Anthony regarding the value of the Olympic gold compared to the Larry O’Brien trophy, a Team USA mate followed suit in echoing similar sentiments. In a recent interview with ESPN’s Marc Stein and Marc Schwarz, Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan sounded off on how he sees the gold […]

Bringing home the gold is the main target, but Carmelo Anthony isn’t going to just play in Rio. He has other important things in his itinerary. According to Anthony, paying a visit to one of the city’s much talked about, but less frequented, places, the favelas, is part of his bucket list, per a recent […]

After a rough start to their quarterfinal matchup with Argentina, Team USA ran away with a 105-78 victory thanks to a huge performance from Kevin Durant and the dance moves of DeMarcus Cousins. Durant was red-hot from outside, scoring 27 points on 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Cousins wasn’t too shabby himself, adding 15 […]

When you look strictly at the numbers, Kevin Durant has been a force for Team USA in the Rio Olympics. He leads the team in points, he’s shooting 60 percent from the field, and he’s managed an incredible 61 percent on three-pointers. However, if you’ve watched the games, you’ve probably wondered why Durant hasn’t taken […]

Tyson Chandler knows what it’s like playing for his country, and the pressures that come along with it. Chandler won a FIBA World Championship in 2010 and a gold medal at the London Olympics with Team USA in 2012. Other than the Final against Spain, the latter squad completely rolled through the competition. That hasn’t […]

It’s pretty simple, according to Klay Thompson. The starting shooting guard for Team USA basketball was pretty blunt when asked about the team and it’s recent struggles. Via NBA.com: “We control our own destiny,” Thompson said. “We just got to trust each other on both sides of the ball. If we do that and play […]

Charles Barkley may have a point. Appearing on The Brad Cesmat Show Monday, Barkley was asked about Team USA basketball’s recent struggles. The U.S. beat Australia by 10 and then only beat Serbia and France by three points each. Barkley pointed to the construction of the roster as to why Team USA hasn’t been more […]

DeMarcus Cousins and Brittney Griner have been having some fun in Rio. Griner, the starting center for the U.S. women’s basketball team, said last week that she would love to get a chance to play Cousins in one-on-one. Cousins was asked about those comments and it looked like he’s not interested in the challenge. Brittney […]

Team USA is about to face Argentina, their 2004 tormentors, in today’s Olympic quarterfinal game. But prior to that, competing teams got a much-deserved, albeit short, break before the knockout stage. For his part, Carmelo Anthony took advantage of the time to get to know the city in a deeper way. The United States’ Olympic […]

Team USA came into the Rio Olympics basketball tournament as the heavy favorites to win it all, but have struggled as of late. Team USA certainly has the most talented team but their chemistry has been put to the test. Despite their recent struggles, Team USA’s odds at winning the gold medal have still remained […]

A staple of past Team USA squads the previous two Olympics, Chris Paul, decided to forego participating in this year’s Rio Olympics. However, you can be certain that he has been keeping up with what is going on. Yesterday, Paul was at the Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club as part of a donation for his […]

Brazil is known for many things, including dominating international men’s soccer competition for many years. The Brazilian men’s soccer team’s success has been fueled by some absolute soccer legends, such as Ronaldo. That former soccer great is in Rio to take in the Olympics, and recently ran into Team USA basketball’s Paul George at an […]

It only gets tougher from here on out. The United States has been challenged in its last three games of group play at the Rio Olympics. After beating Australia by 10, it only beat Serbia and France by three points in each of those wins. Team USA still finished group play undefeated and the top seed […]

The most decorated United States Olympics basketball player ever found himself being decorated and honored in a cool way this week in Rio. While walking through the favelas of Rio, Carmelo Anthony encountered a graffiti artist painting a mural of Anthony himself. Anthony went to Snapchat to tell the story. The Knicks superstar really appreciated the […]

Stephen A. Smith isn’t normally one to back down from a hot take. In fact, that’s how he makes a living. Smith was forced into an apology yesterday after hearing some clarification from Carmelo Anthony regarding certain comments he made earlier in the week. It all started with Anthony being quoted saying this by ESPN’s […]

Team USA had the day off, and took some well-deserved time away from the cruise ship to focus on something other than basketball. They made the best of the day by hanging in Copacabana beach drinking coconut juice, and playing a few rounds of volleyball. Behind-the-scenes with @USABasketball playing pickup beach volleyball in Rio.https://t.co/m6k6neFUUV — The Players' Tribune […]

It’s really sad, but America doesn’t really care about Olympic basketball unless the thought of losing comes into play. Ominous vibes sent up north from U.S. Men’s National Basketball down in Rio 2016 after the team secured the group’s top seed with a three-point victory over the Tony Parker-less French. After skimming past the last […]

The Olympics is home to the best of the best in different sports. In basketball, that description has only applied to the United States, but that was more than 20 years back. Today, the best players are coming from all corners of the globe. Whether it’s from down under, up north, or whatnot, the competition […]

Team USA’s 5-0 record in group play at the Rio Olympics is far from a surprise. The slim margins of victory, though, have been. Indiana Pacers star Paul George believes he knows a big part of the problem. While sliding by competition that many critics didn’t believe would challenge the Americans, George has identified a […]

Has the world caught up with the United States in basketball? Never mind that LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis sat out this year’s Olympics. Part of the recognition on a country’s strength involves the players’ commitments because it also affects the outcome of a tournament. The past three games for Team […]

As always, Tony Parker has been splendid for the French national team. So far in this year’s Olympics, the San Antonio Spurs guard has averaged 13.5 points and 3.8 assists. However, in France’s big game against Team USA tonight, Parker, curiously, did not see action. In a tweet by ESPN’s Marc Stein, his status was […]

The basketball story of the summer, besides the Rio Olympics, has certainly been Kevin Durant leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors. Of course, with Team USA competing at the Olympics, the two storylines were bound to overlap. Team USA’s legendary head coach, Mike Krzyzewski, weighed in on Durant’s big free […]

Team USA looked good for most of their final Olympic pool play game, although France stormed back in the final minutes, only losing 100-97. One of the better plays of the game combined the talents of Draymond Green and DeAndre Jordan in the third quarter. The Warriors power forward fed the Clippers center for a […]

The United States men’s basketball team is the overwhelming favorite to win the gold medal at the Rio Olympics, but the team has struggled mightily in their pool play games against Serbia and Australia. Multiple players, including DeAndre Jordan and Paul George, have already given their perspective on what has been going wrong. Now, DeMarcus […]

DeMarcus Cousins celebrated his birthday on Saturday in Rio with a message for his Olympic teammate Draymond Green. Usually the birthday boy would receive a congratulatory message, but in this case Cousins actually dishes out a burn to the Warriors power forward. When Green laughs at the Kings center, Boogie shoots back: “Why you ugly […]

Carmelo Anthony has been the man for the Americans, racking up one record after another in Olympic basketball for the United States. Without a doubt, he is now the most decorated Olympian in USA basketball history, and will further cement that fact if they win the Gold medal in Rio. Anthony released some comments a […]