USA coach Steve Kerr has managed to call on a number of big stars for his 12-man Olympics roster, including Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant and Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry. Between them, the trio have been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player seven times.
All of Team USA’s players have all either been named NBA MVP, have won the NBA championship or featured in at least one All-Star game.
Ahead of the Games, Team USA have already beaten Canada, Australia and Serbia in friendlies in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi.
They now head to London for a double-header of warm-up matches against South Sudan (20 July) and Germany (22 July), with their first match in Paris taking place six days later against Serbia.
Kerr, a nine-time NBA champion as a player and coach, is relishing the trip to London.
“I believe our team is very excited about our two games in London,” Kerr told BBC Sport.
“I have got family there, so I can’t wait to play there.
“I think everyone is really excited about not just the Olympics, but the lead-up as well.”
For Kerr, the trips to Las Vegas, Abu Dhabi and now London have also given him and his squad a chance to bond. Many of his selection had never played together prior to the start of their preparations.
In competitions away from the Olympics, such as the Fiba World Cup and Fiba AmeriCup, Kerr and Team USA are often making several changes between camps.
The Olympics give Kerr an extended chance to develop strong relationships in the squad.
“This is a very unique experience. The NBA season is a marathon and Fiba is more of a sprint, especially for Team USA,” said Kerr.
“We generally have a different team every summer, whereas a lot of the teams we are playing against, they have the continuity that comes with having a very similar roster year after year.
“Our strength is the depth of talent we have in this country but one of the many challenges that we face in Fiba.
“We have to try and mould the team quickly. That comes via both practice but also with travel and bonding and with the experience of flying overseas and playing in different venues, different cultures.”
