Team USA Articles - Page 40

A few months ago, Monty Williams became a source of inspiration for everyone. The tragedy that struck his family, when his wife got into an accident and passed away, was a life-altering experience for every individual, no matter who they are. But with his faith, the former Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach faced the entire […]

When the current Team USA Men’s National Basketball team recently met Major Scott Smiley, an American hero and Purple Heart recipient, they weren’t just able to shake his hand, but also got to learn a very valuable lesson from him – what it truly means to represent one’s country. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski has been known […]

DeMar DeRozan‘s 360 dunk attempt brought as much excitement as possible to a play that was never completed. According to ESPN’s Marc Spears, Coach Mike Krzyzewski didn’t like it, and feels a change is in order, We had a little bit too much fun out there tonight. We have to tone that down a little bit. […]

Kevin Durant had a little too much confidence in his teammates on Tuesday, when Team USA hosted China in an exhibition game at Oracle Arena. Durant drove through the lane to draw the defense inside the paint, and  passed the ball off to a wide-open Kyle Lowry, for an uncontested three-pointer. Durant prematurely spread his arms to celebrate, […]

In a game almost too unfair to call competition, Team USA obliterated China 106-57 in an exhibition showdown in Oakland, California. DeMar DeRozan dazzled the crowd with a move so amazing that it earned cheers although the attempt was unsuccessful. With two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, DeRozan drove baseline with a defender coming his […]

Olympic basketball is not all about dominating the best competition in the world and bringing home a medal. There is down time when players get a chance to spend time together and bond. Players form relationships and get to know each other, where they usually never have the time to do so. Some players only […]

Paul George has made a spectacular recovery from his gruesome leg injury in the summer of 2014. He was even more impressive for the Indiana Pacers in his first full season back and has carried that over to Team USA. Early in the third quarter of an exhibition game between the United States and China, […]

Carmelo Anthony has been one of the best players from the US in international competition since the Redeem Team was formed in 2008. Team USA faced off against China in Oakland, at Oracle Arena on Tuesday night. Late in the first quarter, Anthony matched up with defender in an isolation situation. The result was a sick crossover dribble […]

It’s got to be great for Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, knowing that Kevin Durant will get to play with two of his other stars this summer in the Rio Olympics. It will surely be an advantage for Golden State with Durant getting the chance to develop chemistry alongside Klay Thompson and Draymond Green for a […]

DeMarcus Cousins is not a player who screams and yells after making a shot, or when his teammates score. That changed Sunday night when Team USA took on China at Staples Center. There were plenty of highlights in the game, but one particular play got Cousins’ attention. Harrison Barnes drove to the lane and dunked over three […]

With the final roster set for Team USA and the Rio Olympics drawing closer by the day, every opportunity to develop chemistry is important for this team. Although a lot of big names like Lebron James, Stephen Curry, and James Harden have opted out of playing in this year’s Olympics, there is still quite the star studded […]

DeMarcus Cousins may benefit more than any other player by being a part of Team USA basketball this summer in Rio. He wants to make sure he takes advantage of the opportunity. Cousins was asked about the experience so far and had this to say, via CowbellKingdom.com: “I’m ready to share my experiences with my […]

Kevin Durant is trying to block out all of the noise. Whether he’s able to do this or not, he’s keeping to the story that he’s not bothered by it. Before Team USA’s second exhibition game Sunday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles against China, Durant and new Warriors teammate Draymond Green were […]

NBA stars in the Team USA basketball program have a unique opportunity every few years to play for one of the best, if not the best, college coaches ever in Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K comes in with a little bit of a fresh perspective. All great coaches, no matter the level, share some of the same traits, […]

DeAndre Jordan is notorious for being one of the worst free throw shooters in the NBA, and perhaps ever. For his career, he’s shot a horrendous 42 percent from the charity stripe. Those struggles were on full display last night as the United States Olympic men’s basketball team annihilated China in a exhibition game at […]

Last Friday, we saw the new Team USA Men’s National Basketball team blow past Argentina with a 37-point beating, 111-74, in front of their home crowd in Las Vegas. Yes, even after winning by a very huge margin, head coach Mike Krzyzewski still had to nitpick on his team’s performance. As he told Steve Aschburner of NBA.com, there’s  “terminology […]

It seems that Los Angeles basketball fans aren’t too fond of Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. Before Sunday night’s Team USA exhibition game against China at Staples Center, both Durant and Green were booed during pre-game introductions, according to multiple reports. Clippers fans at Staples not messing around. Kevin Durant and Draymond Green — USA […]

The 2016 USA basketball squad is almost ready for the Rio Olympics. En route to their second exhibition game this summer, a few of the players had some fun on the plane at the expense of one of their teammates. Kyrie Irving and Draymond Green were the culprits this time. The Cavs point guard calls […]

Team USA has kicked off its slate of exhibition games heading into the Rio Olympics, and basketball fans are getting excited for what this team can do. At a recent event where fans took photos with cardboard cutouts of the entire Team USA roster, one player made surprises appearances for the fans. Got 'em! Had […]

Klay Thompson could eventually go down as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history when all is said and done. His ability to shoot off screens and move off the ball is at an elite level. Whilst his shooting is a huge part of his game, he is also becoming incredibly important to his […]

Argentina’s Luis Scola has seen Team USA lineups come and go. The nine-year NBA veteran will compete in his fourth Olympics, carrying the standard for an Argentine team looking to extend their country’s presence in international basketball. Following a 111-74 exhibition loss against a star-studded Team USA, the newly acquired Brooklyn Nets big man discusses his younger […]

There are three Golden State Warriors on the Team USA squad heading to the Rio Olympics: shooting guard Klay Thompson, power forward Draymond Green, and recently singed small forward Kevin Durant. With the team playing their first exhibition against Argentina on Friday, the three shared the court on the same team for the first time […]

Carmelo Anthony was asked to give a speech to the USA Basketball men’s team, being one of the most experienced players on the roster. The New York Knicks superstar broke down the goals for the team, and what it would take to bring home a gold medal. It won’t be a cakewalk, and players will have […]

Whilst the twenty-five year old DeMarcus Cousins is fully concentrated on winning an Olympic gold medal in Rio alongside his teammate Carmelo Anthony, a much younger Cousins would have been elated just to be on the court with him. The former Kentucky big man grew up as a huge fan of Anthony, who has now […]

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine recently took part in some of the Team USA preparation ahead of the Rio Olympic Games. The two-time Slam Dunk contest winner took part in scrimmages and training session as part of the international set up. While LaVine was happy to be part of it all, he seems to have […]

Stephen Curry fully intended to take part in the Rio Olympic Games this summer. After announcing he wouldn’t play, he now appears to be disappointed that he won’t be competing after all. Golden State’s star player spoke of his decision in a Facebook Live news conference this week: “I wasn’t too happy with the situation […]

DeAndre Jordan has never been an All-Star. Taken as the 35th pick in the 2008 NBA draft, Jordan has always seemed to have a burning desire to prove himself. This past season, he was named to the First Team All-NBA, an honor that validates his impact on the league. Now, it seems Jordan now has […]

Sports are often a useful avenue to bring people together. Never is that more so the case than with the Olympics. Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant will play for Team USA in Rio starting in a few weeks. Both KD and his teammates recognize the influence they have being on this team, and they […]

The extremely controversial anti-LGBT law, House Bill 2, that was passed in North Carolina continues to make waves throughout the sports world. Duke and USA basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski, has spoken out against the bill less than a week after his Duke Blue Devils revealed their schedule for the upcoming season. Albany will not […]

Team USA had its first practice last Tuesday as part of opening their training camp in preparation for the Rio Olympics. The Americans are looking to defend their gold medal in the summer games. To close out their session, the team had shooting drills and after everyone left the court, one stayed behind and decided […]

Paul George has vivid memories of training for the Olympics. Two years ago, as part of the blue team in the pre-Olympic Team USA practice scrimmage, Paul George suffered one of the most horrific injuries to happen on the hardcourt. Teammates and spectators watched in horror as Paul George snapped his leg while driving to […]

Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird recently spoke about the team’s star forward, Paul George, and his return to Team USA. Bird is proud of PG13’s progress and how he bounced back from the gruesome leg injury he suffered in 2014. In a Q&A with ESPN’s Nick Friedell, Bird said he understands the situation his franchise player […]

Carmelo Anthony recently spoke with the New York Times, answering questions surrounding his call to action regarding racial tensions, which he has spoken about more frequently lately than basketball. Anthony feels the upcoming Olympics are starting at the perfect time to speak up and send messages that promote healing. He’s just getting started. The Olympic team […]

Following Draymond Green‘s arrest for an alleged result in East Lansing, Michigan, questions rose up about him possibly being kicked off of Team USA for the upcoming Olympics in Rio. His court date was moved prior to the start of the Olympic games, but that didn’t stop critics from calling for him to be removed […]

After losing a dramatic Game 7 to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Draymond Green took the blame for the Warriors‘ defeat and said it’s going to bother him all offseason. Well, Green is now taking steps towards getting the bitter taste of losing out of his mouth prior to the beginning of the 2016-17 […]

The list of NBA stars not playing for Team USA this summer seems to longer than the list of players who are playing. DeMarcus Cousins is in, and so is Paul George, but many others have opted not to participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics is another story. The […]

The latest player to announce he will not join Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro is James Harden. Harden released a statement on his decision Friday night: “As a result of many difficult conversations with my family, the Rockets, and trusted advisors, I’ve notified Jerry Colangelo and Team USA that […]

For the first time in his career, DeMarcus Cousins will be playing at the Olympics. The Kings center reportedly found out he made the team on Friday: Kings' DeMarcus Cousins has been told he has earned a roster spot on USA Basketball's 2016 Rio Olympics team, a source told The Undefeated. — Marc J. Spears […]

What used to be considered one of the greatest honors in all of sports, the Olympic Games now seems to have lost some of its prestige. For some reason, numerous NBA stars have all recently withdrawn from the 2016 Summer Olympics. The increasingly long list of stars already withdrawn includes Warriors’ star guards Steph Curry […]