Team USA basketball has taken its first official step toward what it hopes will be a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
It took the floor on Sunday against Serbia, a national team that boasts three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, in its first game of group play. Coming into this contest, some were concerned given its uneven performance in its five exhibition games and felt it could be ripe for an upset loss.
However, the United States made it clear which team was superior on the floor. It raced past Serbia, 110-84, and it amped up the crowd that was in attendance.
Kevin Durant, who had been out lately because of a calf injury, was magnificent with 23 points. But LeBron James was the United States’ best all-around player with 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Even at age 39, he looked like his usual self while serving up a number of crowd-pleasing highlights.
LeBron James today:
21 points
9 assists
8 rebounds
9/13 FGLeCaptain America 🔥pic.twitter.com/8P5mpTeMHX
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 28, 2024
Anthony Davis came off the bench and contributed seven points and eight rebounds in 19 minutes. He sparked Team USA when he came into the game and helped it gain more separation from Serbia.
Anthony Davis gives up the Offensive Board to Jokic, but then strips away his pass.
Team USA has gone on a 12-0 run since AD checked in. pic.twitter.com/GxPm9bjGSb
— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) July 28, 2024
AD with the Offensve Board-
Zips it back to Bam for the Slam! pic.twitter.com/14y3YD8svF
— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) July 28, 2024
Team USA will next play South Sudan, a team it barely beat just days ago in an exhibition contest, on July 31.
