Steve Kerr spent this summer coaching Team USA at the FIBA World Cup. The tournament didn’t go as planned: Kerr’s team finished fourth after a disappointing loss to Canada in the third-place game. Rather than lick its wounds, Team USA has begun planning for the 2024 Olympics. LeBron James has declared his availability and has reportedly begun sounding out All-Star talents from around the league.
However, the Golden State Warriors head coach has confirmed the tournament will be his last with the national team during an interview with The Athletic’s Joe Vardon. Kerr will step down from his role with Team USA regardless of what happens in Paris.
“To me, it’s a two-year; it’s a cycle,” Kerr said. “Pop coached a World Cup and the Olympics, now it’s my turn to pass the baton. I think that’s kind of how it should be. Frankly, it’s a huge commitment, too. I guess I think it was different the last go-around with Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) and Jerry (Colangelo), when they were really establishing this culture and this system where guys had to commit for a couple years. Made sense for Coach K to stay on. But I think where we are now, one cycle and you move on.”
The Olympic USA Team projects to look totally different from the one we saw stutter in the World Cup. Kerr will have some of the best American talent in the league at his disposal. That Olympic roster could include Steph Curry, who has started the season looking like a potential MVP candidate and would likely enjoy adding an Olympic gold medal to his already-stacked trophy cabinet.
