NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
This is not a joking matter, but in a way, it really is. USA Basketball is not what it once was. Hell, to be truthful, it’s never been the same since the original Dream Team. After those guys, it’s been a mixture of one-on-one players trying their best to compete as a unit against the best in the world.
Well, following their 4th-place finish at the FIBA World Cup, here we are again. Now, LeBron James says he wants to play in the 2024 Olympics and he wants to bring the best of the best with him. That means Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Anthony Davis, and more. Yeah, it sounds good but how many more of these Redeem Teams can the USA Basketball have?
I can understand that roster changes from FIBA to the Olympics. It’s always been like that but to have that kind of chemistry needed to win, they need to keep them together. This is how you win at the International level. That’s how you stay consistent. USA Basketball has to be the only one that changes their rosters as much. And yet, we’re sitting here wondering why we’re not winning the gold as frequently.
What LeBron is trying to do is great but as he enters the twilight of his career, he’s looking to go out with a bang and have the same impact on USA Basketball as the late Kobe Bryant did.
Remember, it was Bryant who brought Team USA back to its glory when LeBron James and his other so-called superstar friends could not. It was Bryant who put them on his back and led them to gold. Now, young guys like Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Brandon Ingram, and Jaren Jackson Jr. may be on the outside looking in because they did not get the job done.
LeBron James believes that he and his team of veterans can do what Kobe helped them do. But here’s the issue here. LeBron is not saying “I will help you guys win it.” He’s saying “I don’t want you on my team.” That’s why there will always be separation when it comes to himself and Kobe.
Should USA Basketball Bring Back LeBron James
Kobe said he’ll play with whoever and make them a winner. LeBron, much like his NBA career is still trying to build Super Teams to take home the ultimate prize. If you want that legacy, go and school these young kids and show them how it’s done. Don’t bring your own team and kick them to the side.
Maybe that’s me being a bit too critical of James and this decision. But as he’s set to leave the game, I’m always holding out hope that he’s ready to give back. No need to grab all these players. Let the new breed usher in the new era. There is no need to get a group of older guys to play when in another 2 seasons, USA Basketball is right back where it was before this newly Redeem Team was formed. Nothing is settled.
It’s not that the current stars in the NBA are not talented, the truth is, the talent around the globe is so much better than it was in earlier years. A good portion of those global players are currently in the NBA or have played in the league before. The rules are different and they do have an advantage of sorts. Maybe they are hungrier. Every country wants to have its chest poked out and say they beat USA Basketball.
Hell, even Edwards stated that fact when he said that USA Basketball doesn’t have a Kobe Bryant when Steve Kerr mentioned that Dwayne Wade came off the bench so Kobe could start. That should have let us know where this team stood.
LeBron James can bring Curry and whoever he wants. No matter who he brings, he can never duplicate what Kobe brought to the Redeem Team. while there will probably be a documentary to follow, this would be an exciting team to watch. Just won’t hold the weight of what that Kobe-led team did.
