Team USA Articles - Page 42

Team USA is on it’s way to yet another gold medal in what will be Mike Krzyzewski’s final international game as Team USA’s coach. Kevin Durant has been leading Team USA in scoring these Olympics, and Sunday’s gold medal game against Serbia was no different. Durant helped spark the Americans with 30 points, including this […]

Mike Krzyzewski has handled countless of multi-millionaire athletes over the course of his USA Basketball tenure, and if there’s one thing that has happened again and again for the 69-year-old coach, it’s that he always earned the players’ respect. He has zero experience coaching in the NBA, but that never came as a knock on […]

The 2016 Rio Olympics has been very eventful for Carmelo Anthony. Not only did he start using Snapchat, but he also had one statistical milestone after another as the tournament matured, further solidifying his status as “Mr. USA Basketball”. Anthony is eyeing an unprecedented 3rd gold medal which will only be a fitting exclamation to the […]

Team USA’s gold medal match set to begin a few hours from now is extremely meaningful for United States basketbal as it will be coach Mike Krzyzewski’s international swan song. The man who played one of the biggest roles in the country’s reclamation of hoops glory will be coaching his final game for the Red, […]

ESPN spent some time with Team USA before practice and had a hilarious light-hearted discussion about Jimmy Butler‘s credentials as an NFL talent. In an ESPN video, Butler boldly proclaimed to a reporter that he would be a much better NFL receiver than Demaryius Thomas if he choose to play in the NFL. I really […]

Team USA recently held its first full-contact practice in nearly three weeks. Something needed to change after having close calls in three consecutive Olympic games and it was time to fix what was wrong. The Solution The practice session was the perfect time to raise the team’s intensity level before playing Argentina in the quarterfinals. […]

If there’s a group that the men’s national basketball team of the United States should look up to, it’s got to be their women counterparts. With their 101-72 win over Spain, Team USA notched its 6th straight Olympic gold medal for women’s basketball. The cagebelles were simply dominant all throughout the competition, piling up victories […]

Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympian of all-time, claims the presence of NBA players in the stands adds inspiration and motivation to Team USA swimmers during competitions. It is no secret that all Olympians are ultra-competitive and Phelps believes the presence of NBA players in the stands triggers USA swimmers to use that extra motivation when […]

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 […]