With Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard confirming he’ll play, Team USA Basketball will have all hands on deck as they prepare for the Paris Olympics. With training camp beginning Saturday in Las Vegas, NV, the question is who Team USA’s coaching staff —led by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr —plans to start in out of this illustrious group.
“It’s a great question,” Kerr says, per The Athletic’s Joe Vardon.
“My staff and I have talked about it quite a bit, it’s a good problem to have, but I think I’m guessing that all 12 players on this roster will be in the Hall of Fame someday. So how do you pick five out of 12? The idea is you find combinations that click and you find two-way lineups that can be effective at both ends. So our big job in Las Vegas is to find five-man combinations that fit and to just ask all 12 guys to fully commit to the goal of winning a gold medal no matter what it looks like, no matter who’s playing.”
Los Angeles Lakers maestro LeBron James “will likely play point forward for the Americans as a starter, moving (Stephen) Curry off the ball,” Vardon reports.
In 2023-24, James averaged 25.7 points and 8.3 assists per game. It was his 19th straight season averaging at least 25 points and 6 assists per game. One of the best passers and most intelligent players in basketball history, James is well-suited for the role.
What’s Team USA’s Plan For Starting Lineup?
Vardon speculates of the final three starters will be Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant and Philadelphia 76ers centerpiece Joel Embiid are locks. He considers that one of either Leonard, Lakers big man Anthony Davis, or Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday will occupy the final spot.
Durant, the all-time leading scorer in Team USA Basketball’s Olympic history, should have his name carved into the starting lineup. The holder of four Olympic gold medals, his offensive talents will both be welcomed and needed. Indeed, Durant is arguably the most capable isolation scorer on the roster and one of their deadliest snipers.
Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, could start as well.
This isn’t just because he’s a force to be reckoned with. Playing like a face-up forward at 7-foot-0 and 280 pounds, Embiid’s averaged at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game over the past three seasons. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
However, the reason Team USA needs to start him is even simpler than an evaluation of his dominance. As their potential opponents that include three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic (Serbia), four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert (France), and 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama (France), his size will be needed.
Paging Dr. Holiday
Holiday is the best choice to occupy the final slot in the first unit.
Leonard’s resume outweighs all but that of James, Curry, and Durant’s when compared to his Olympic teammates. However, with James playing point-forward and Curry moving off-ball, they’re lacking a primary guard defender. Though James or Curry could lock up a number of backcourt players, it’s Holiday’s specialty. It’s like he got his doctorate in defense.
Leonard is an excellent defender too. Nonetheless, his talents will be better suited for long wings and strong forwards.
LeBron James’s Backup
The second unit may then feature Leonard alongside Davis, Celtics face of the franchise Jayson Tatum, and likely Indiana Pacers floor general Tyrese Haliburton.
James remains the team’s best facilitator due to his precision, creativity, experience, and basketball IQ. Still, he’s 39 years old and only a couple of months removed from his last game. At 24 years old, Haliburton’s youth plays to his advantage, the conductor of Indiana’s fast-paced offense should come into the game and give Team USA a jolt.
In the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Haliburton was one of the standouts with heady performances on the world stage. The rising star averaged team-highs of 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.2 percent from 3.
