It was only an exhibition game, but South Sudan had an opportunity to pull off the greatest upset in international basketball history Saturday in London, writes Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Team USA needed a driving layup by LeBron James with eight seconds remaining and a crucial defensive stop to escape with a 101-100 victory.
It marked the first real taste of adversity for a U.S. team that’s heavily favored to win the gold medal in France. South Sudan built its lead as high as 16 points as the Americans’ offense looked badly out of sync for most of the first half.
“I did not do a great job preparing our team, I think we did not focus enough on what they’re capable of and that’s on me,” head coach Steve Kerr said.“They played a wonderful game and the ending was good for us just to feel that. To feel what it’s going to be like in Paris and Lille. … A good reminder that when we play against teams, it’s the biggest game of their lives and we have to expect everyone to play like that.”
Kerr shook things up by using a completely different lineup to start the second half. That sparked a comeback that featured a 23-5 run covering the late third and early fourth quarters, but South Sudan still grabbed a late lead on a three-pointer by JT Thor that set up James’ heroics.
“I think the whole team was embarrassed at halftime to be totally outplayed and down 14,” Kerr said. “And I don’t think [James] was real thrilled about me not starting him in the third quarter. But I thought that next group that we put out there really did a good job defensively. And I looked down a couple of times and I can see LeBron chomping at the bit to be out on the floor as soon as he got out there and he went to work, so he was brilliant.”
There’s more Olympics news to pass along:
- Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, who serves as head coach for South Sudan, believes the experience will help his team in the Olympics even though it didn’t quite get the victory, Windhorst adds. In addition to Thor, South Sudan was led by 2022/23 G League Player of the Year Carlik Jones, who posted a triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and Marial Shayok, a second-round pick by the Sixers in 2019, who had 24 points. “We want to take the momentum, the mindset, the tenaciousness that we had [to the Olympics],” Ivey said. “We didn’t flinch.”
- South Sudan is already a remarkable story by reaching the Olympics in only its 13th year as a nation, notes Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle. Former NBA star Luol Deng, who serves as president of the country’s basketball federation, personally funded the program and picked Ivey to serve as head coach in 2021. The Bright Stars qualified for the Olympics with their performance in last year’s FIBA World Cup.
- In an episode of The Interview podcast, Joel Embiid explained that his decision to join Team USA was influenced by pressure from France (hat tip to HoopsHype). “It didn’t help that, you know, France that put an ultimatum on, you know, when the decision had to be made,” Embiid said.
Kerr is abysmal. Embiid should be home. Haliburton, Tatum, and Edwards showed embarrassing effort. Lebron is something else hats off to him and D White for saving the USA. But hey who needs effort when you have the self proclaimed “greatest team” ever assembled. Seeing Kerr smirking with a minute left while Spoelstra was sweating is telling.
Spo should be the coach of this team. “I did not do a great job preparing our team, […]” is a honest statement by Kerr, but something like that wouldn’t happen with Spo.
I think they’ll win Gold anyway, but they should make a change after the tournament.
Hali Tatum and ant have actually been good in other games. but thank God kerr is leaving after the olympics. there is no reason why spo shouldnt be the coach. and start AD ffs like how and does embiid have to be before you bench him
As much as I agree with you about AD starting. I believe AD coming off the bench balances out the lineups. He does all the little things(plus WAY more) you need for a backup. He essentially does everything embiid doesn’t do which is perfect for his role on the team.
Carlick was blowing by Jrue. Maybe some tired legs but US hasn’t played with much passion or pride.
Because they are overpaid and don’t care about USA just the gold, money and bragging rights
It’s not as much Kerr as it is roster construction and USA basketball leadership. They put together an Allstar team instead of an actual team. As coach Herb Brooks would say the name on the front is more important than the one on the back. Think of guys like Melo who were nba superstars who were the guy on their teams why essentially acted as role players fulfilling what the team needed. We don’t have that right now. The sum of the team is less than its parts.
“I did not do a great job preparing our team, I think we did not focus enough on what they’re capable of and that’s on me,” head coach Steve Kerr said”
Welcome to the last 2 seasons of GSW basketball, two seasons where GSW should have EASILY cleared 55 wins, but didnt due STRICTLY to Kerr being bad at his job.
It’s Free Steph Curry…from Steve Kerr!!
Somehow, you manage to outdo yourself on an almost daily basis. Bravo.
The sad thing about Davey is that the Warriors were ready to give up on Curry. They had him traded to the Bucks, but their doctors thought that Curry carried to much risk. Kerr actually wanted to draft Curry when he was the Suns GM.
That was long before Curry became Curry, and the Warriors were only going with Ellis over Curry because of Curry’s glass ankles. Now Curry falls to the floor instead of putting stress in his ankles, and they largely haven’t been a problem.
I think you missed my point. It wasn’t Ellis over Curry. They were in the same back court. If the ankle solution were that simple, you would think that the coaches, trainers, and doctors of both the Bucks and Warriors would have figured that out. So, either the Warriors would not have attempted to trade Curry, or the Bucks would have accepted the trade. Curry didn’t become Curry until Kerr became headcoach.
I have been driven insane by bad Steve Kerr in-game coaching choices over the last 10 years, I’m sorry.
What we need to do is free hoopsrumors from Davey the clown!
Anyone knocking Kerr and Team USAs performance needs to do a little research. Some are projecting South Sudan’s starting Center to be the 1st pick 2025. The dude has projectable skills that could put him in elite territory.
He only had 7 & 3. It was the other guys on the team that were lightning them up. Which is completely expected. Watch South Sudan lose there next friendly.
In other words, South Sudan has some talent and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
I guess. I’m pretty sure the Nigerian national team upset the U.S. in 2020. Let’s see how Sudan does in there next friendly before we overreact.
Team USA should understand every team they play will come after them harder and stronger than any other team. Its like being the world champs and even the weak teams come after you. They must be at the top of their game every game.
I think it’s actually a New York Times podcast called The Interview, which you can find on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts
Ngl it probably would have been good for team USA to receive a defeat before the olympics(like in 2020 with Nigeria). But atleast they got a reality check and they could learn from this moving forward.
Shayok schooling USA lol
illinois & iowa represting yet again. south sudan with marial shayok(iowastate) peter jok(iowa). usa haliburton(iowastate) anthony davis(chicago). let’s go!
The coaching staff, like the players, were selected based on NBA pedigree, not their ability to contribute to a successful Olympic effort. Kerr and Spo (no different) – like Pop – are “NBA Only” coaches, and can only continue to do what they do, which might constitute coaching in the NBA, but won’t be impactful in the international game. The slippage in USA basketball since Coach K left is noticeable to anyone that follows the international game.
Fortunately, the enormous talent advantage the team has vs the field still gives it a good shot at coming out on top. If not, though, Hill needs to go and his replacement needs to understand the international game and have the freedom to assemble a team based on it.