Category Archives: Olympics

Russia's attempt to compare the country's Olympic Committee suspension with the situation of Israeli athletes following the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas was out of place, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday said the IOC was aligning itself with western political decisions after the Olympic body had said any discrimination against athletes at the Games would be swiftly dealt with because they are not responsible for the decisions of their governments.

The IOC had been responding to a question regarding Israeli athletes participating at next year's Paris Olympics and the potential refusal of other nations' athletes to compete against them over the ongoing conflict.

Lavrov called the IOC statement "shameful", saying it "proves its political bias".

"This (Russian) is a unique situation and cannot be compared to any other war or conflict in the world, because the measures taken and recommendations made by the IOC are a consequence of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022," an IOC spokesperson said.

The IOC did not ban the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) until last month after it recognized regional organizations from four territories annexed from Ukraine.

The IOC said on Oct. 12 the ROC would be banned with immediate effect after it recognized Olympic Councils from the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

"This constitutes a breach of the Olympic Charter because it violates the territorial integrity of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, as recognized by the IOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter," the IOC spokesperson said.

Lavrov on Thursday said the IOC was just kowtowing to western powers when it said discriminatory behaviour would be punished at the Olympics.

"This, of course, is outrageous," Lavrov said. "Once again we see an example of the bias and failure of the International Olympic Committee, which time after time proves its political bias."

"Everything that is responsible interests of Western countries, primarily the United States, it actively supports and tries to find formulations that will generally approve of this line," he said. "Shameful and of course, the IOC greatly discredited itself."

A decision on whether Russian athletes will be allowed to take part in the Paris Olympics as neutrals without a flag or anthem has yet to be taken but the IOC has repeatedly said it would not punish athletes for government decisions.

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IOC says its Olympic ban on Russia cannot be compared with Israel situation - Japan Today

Mexicans Nuria Diosdado and Joana Jimnez were crowned champions of artistic swimming in pairs on Thursday at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, which also secured their spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Mexican duo dedicated their success to those affected by the impact of Hurricane Otis in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Diosdado and Jimnez scored 235.7875 points in the free routine performed on this day, which was also the most challenging routine presented in the competition.

"We dedicate this medal to our entire family who is here with us. Also, a special dedication to Acapulco, to all the people who are currently going through difficult times in our country. They should know that this medal carries the strength and energy for Mexico to move forward," Diosdado said to the media after receiving the medal.

The athlete stated that they are "very satisfied" to have achieved something "historic" for their country, with a "clean execution" and no penalties.

To this result, they added the 250.2333 points obtained on Tuesday in the technical routine, for a total of 486.0208, guaranteeing them the gold medal and the spot in Paris.

Diosdado recalled that "the best place Mexico has achieved in the Olympic Games is ninth. So, along with Joa (Joana Jimnez), we hope to break that ninth place achieved in Sydney 2000 and improve on that position," she said.

Diosdado and Jimnez were also able to overcome their second-place finish at the Lima 2019 Games, where the gold went to the Canadian duet. "The fact that we have this gold today gives us an even greater benchmark to keep improving," said Jimnez.

This time, the silver medal went to the American duo of Megumi Field and Ruby Remati, who arrived at the competition with the bronze they won in synchronized swimming by teams at the Fukuoka Swimming World Championships in July.

The Americans scored a total of 451.6758 points, with 238.8467 points achieved on Tuesday in the technical routine and 212.8292 points obtained in the free routine on Thursday.

The Brazilian pair Laura Miccuci and Gabriela Regly Silva completed the podium with a score of 191.9604 in the free routine, plus the 198.2833 recorded in the technical routine, for a total of 390.2437.

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Diosdado and Jimnez win gold and secure their spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics - Insidethegames.biz

James had played in three Olympic games, and while his haters give him demerits for only winning a bronze medal in 2004, he did help the Americans claim the gold in both 2008 and 2012. His leadership early in his Team USA tenure may have been a concern, but he was the unquestioned leader during the 2012 games, and clearly, his leadership worked that year.

Davis was also on that 2012 Team USA roster. The squad burned through the competition easily and won all but two of its eight games in dominant fashion.

NBA players are prioritizing rest more than ever, which is one reason USA Basketball should prioritize NBA stars in their 20s who are better able to deal with a shorter offseason without any big risk of injury. It is time for the younger generation of standouts, such as Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker, both of whom helped Team USA win the gold in the last Olympic games, to continue to hold the proverbial torch.

Perhaps it is also time for young stars such as Mikal Bridges, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, all of whom were in the FIBA World Cup, as well as Donovan Mitchell and DeAaron Fox, neither of whom have been with Team USA yet, to lead the Americans to Olympic gold.

For James and Davis, the time has come for them to commit to commit to sitting on the couch for a good part of next summer while training and preparing for the following NBA season without taxing their aging bodies too much.

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LeBron James and Anthony Davis should forget about the 2024 Olympics - LeBron Wire

The Americans boast a massive wealth of talent at the guard position, which means outstanding players could be squeezed out, players like Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, who said in Oct. 2022 that he was open to representing Team USA at the 2023 World Cup (he was not invited). Young then said he would like to play for the Americans in next summers Olympics back in August.

Well see if that comes to pass; it might depend on what other guards accept or decline invites to suit up for Team USA, though according toESPNsTim MacMahon, Youngs lack of defense hurt his case when he was with the Select Team back in 2019.

Young could be a candidate to take that backup point guard spot from Haliburton, though.

Sacramento Kings guard DeAaron Fox is another such player, though there was talk back in 2019 that he had really hurt his case to ever play for Team USA at the Olympics for the way he handled declining an invite to play at the 2019 World Cup:

U.S.A. Basketball officials were stunned Saturday morning to learn that DeAaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings had chosen to remove his name from considerationfor the final 12-man roster mere hours before the teams flight to Australia for three more exhibition games and a handful of practices.

USA Basketball even responded to rumors about Fox and his future with the program:

A USA Basketball spokesman responded Saturday to comments made on ESPN suggesting Kings point guard DeAaron Fox would not be allowed to represent Team USA in the futurebecause he withdrew from consideration for this summers FIBA World Cup team. Given DeAaron was added into consideration for the World Cup team after originally being part of the USA Select Team in Las Vegas, USA Basketball understands DeAarons decision, Miller told The Bee.

Future Hall of Famer Damian Lillard would make things complicated if he shows a great willingness to play for Team USA, but hes already won a gold medal at the Olympics (which happened back in Tokyo 2020) and hell be 34 by the time the next Summer Games come around, so his focus will likely be on winning an NBA championship over more international hardware. Plus, with Curry on the team, would Lillard even want to go to the Olympics if hes coming off the bench? Well see. If Lillard does want to play for Team USA again, then he clearly gets the spot taken by either Haliburton or Reaves on the roster.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday provides defensive toughness that Team USA can use in FIBA play but hes getting up there in age while Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant may be the top point guard in the game by next year, but he doesnt have much of a history with Team USA and USA Basketball is probably looking for another type of player, not necessarily a one-on-one point guard with inconsistent outside shooting. Plus, the whole ego thing we talked about earlier.

A starter on the most recent Team USA squad, Jalen Brunson is another option but his World Cup showing was not great his scoring didnt offset his complete lack of defense, and hes not as good of a playmaker as some of the Americans other options so we assume the red, white and blue will look elsewhere at lead guard next time.

And thats just at point guard. At shooting guard, the Americans could also consider Donovan Mitchell, who last played for Team USA at the 2019 World Cup, which was an even bigger disaster than the 2023 one was for the Americans.

Might he be a better pick than Reaves? Maybe, but theres only one ball and Mitchell, Booker and Edwards are all rightfully going to think theyre going to deserve their shot attempts, so it might be smarter for the Americans to just take two of those three and give the third spot to more of a role player like Reaves.

Thats all to say, Team USA will have loads of options at the guard spot for the 2024 Olympics and are so loaded at the position that multiple All-Stars will be left off the roster.

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What could Team USA look like at the 2024 Olympics? - Hoops Hype

After much fanfare, Team USA ended their 2023 FIBA World Cup stint in Manila with nothing to show for but heartbreak, disappointment, and consternation. Despite entering the tournament as the favorite to win it all, they failed to make the podium, losing two straight games against Germany and Canada, faltering at the worst possible moment. This is yet another frustrating result for the program, especially when they're coming off a seventh-place finish in 2019. But fear not, Americans, for a LeBron James-cavalry may be coming to the team's rescue.

On Monday morning, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that James is planning to team up with the greatest superstars of his time in Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry to come to Team USA's aid for the 2024 Paris Olympics. This, naturally, sparked a lot of fanfare on Twitter (X), as fans are anticipating what should be a glorious team-up to avenge Team USA's underperformance in recent memory.

LeBron James has seen Team USA underperform in the past, and he's been part of teams that have fallen way short of the lofty expectations these star-studded rosters tend to attract. In 2004, they memorably fell to Argentina in the semifinals and had to settle for bronze, and at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, history repeated itself as they imploded against Greece in the final four, settling for third place instead.

Even though he'll be 39 by the time the Olympics roll along, James appears ready to redeem Team USA once more and end his international career on a high note.

imagine being the dudes on the mens usa team that just lost and immediately seeing lebron is sick of you , one user wrote.

Others had fun with the news of James' rumored Team USA return. Fans simply could not wait for when The King has to face Dillon Brooks, his 2023 playoff nemesis, in the international stage, especially with Brooks fresh off a career-performance during Canada's bronze-medal game victory.

It's unclear at the moment which other future Hall of Famers LeBron James has in mind in his Team USA recruitment. Perhaps Carmelo Anthony comes out of retirement and goes for his fifth Olympic medal and fourth gold.

If were bringing back the old school Team USA I move that we give Carmelo Anthony the 12th roster spot and let him earn his fifth Olympic medal, Sam Quinn of CBS wrote.

Team USA may be reeling at the moment, but take heart, for redemption is near.

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Team USA: LeBron James' Olympics recruitment has fans going wild - ClutchPoints

One of our favorite Olympians is on his way to Paris!

Rower Robbie Manson, who represented New Zealand in the 2012 and 2016 Games, recently qualified for next summers Olympics at the World Rowing Championships in Serbia.

While qualifying for the Games is always special, the honor is especially sweet for Manson. He came back from retirement this summer, competing internationally for the first time in four years.

Manson and his partner, Ben Mason, finished 11th in the mens double scull to secure New Zealand a spot.

Reflecting on this campaign, its been a remarkable and somewhat unexpected ride, wrote Manson on Instagram. When I retired in 2019, returning to rowing was the furthest thing from my mind. However, at the end of last year, I dipped my oars back into the water just for fun. It was a casual return, driven by my love for the sport. But as time went on, that casual involvement evolved into something more significant.

Manson made his decision to return to rowing full-time in March, and hasnt looked back.

The past few months have been a whirlwind, filled with intense training, preparation, and camaraderie, he wrote.

The worlds best time holder in the mens single sculls a 200-meter course that became the Olympic standard in 1912 Manson stepped away from the sport to prioritize his mental health.

This is all I knew, he said in an interview. It was really scary to step away for a lot of reasons, because I didnt know anything else. But I also knew that I needed to.

It took special circumstances for Manson to return, one of which was the opportunity to compete with Mason. The two met a few years ago when Manson spoke to Masons rowing team, and theyve remained close ever since.

They made their debut in the World Rowing Cup two months ago, despite only competing in less than 10 rows as a duo.

But Manson and Masons lack of time together didnt hurt. They finished sixth overall!

Had an incredible time racing in Lucerne again after five years!, posted Manson. So many unknowns going into the race, considering Ben and I have only been rowing together for a short time and its been four years since my last international competition. But there were plenty of positives!

The duo spent the rest of their summer training in Italy, before heading to Serbia for the championships.

Rowing alongside Ben, a rising young talent, has been an absolute pleasure, wrote Manson. This was his first elite world championship, and he faced his own hurdles to be here. I couldnt be prouder of what weve accomplished in such a short span of time.

Thats high praise, considering Manson is an all-time great.

And he has coming out to thank.

He publicly came out as gay in 2016, and experienced his greatest athletic successes. Manson broke a world recordand won aninternational male athlete of the year award in the years following his big announcement.

He was on such a roll, even a serious training accident couldnt stop him.

I have enjoyed the past four years more than the previous four and I think that has a lot to do with just being myself, Mansonwrote in an Outsports essay.

While its great to see Manson back on the water, an important question remains: What about his OnlyFans?!

Manson became the latest heartthrob Olympian to join the platform in June, along with several British divers.

I joinedOnlyFans. Now, before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify. My content on the platform is anything but adult entertainment, he wrote on Outsports. I promise no explicit content or shenanigans, just a fun and playful space where I can express myself creatively and promote body positivity, sensuality and self-acceptance.

Luckily for us, Manson is still finding time for self-expression in the midst of his training. He updated his OnlyFans yesterday.

Phew! Off to Paris he goes!

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Gay rower Robbie Manson just qualified for the Olympics while still updating his OnlyFans page - Queerty

Team USA fell short at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. If LeBron James has his way, the USA won't suffer a similar result at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

James is reportedly ready to commit to playing for Team USA next summer. And James wants to bring along several other American-born stars to join him.

Players the Lakers superstar has reportedly reached out to include Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum and Draymond Green. That group of five is reportedly ready to commit.

Devin Booker, D'Aaron Fox, Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving have all also expressed interest in playing for Team USA in Paris. Anthony Edwards and Mikal Bridges are also expected receive consideration from the World Cup team. In addition, Bam Adebayo and Desmond Bane are expected to be considered for the roster.

Team USA is also expected to try to recruit Joel Embiid. Embiid hasn't suited up for an international tournament and remains eligible to play for either the United States or France, should he choose to play in the Olympics.

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LeBron James Recruiting Stars To Play In Paris Olympics - RealGM.com

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Why do Americans interchange autumn and fall? [Mental Floss]

The under-appreciated importance of the school bus [Washington Post]

Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes wants robot umps [Yahoo Sports]

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman embark on their 22nd season together [The Ringer]

Possible landing spots for a Mike Trout trade [CBS Sports]

Garrett Wilson with an utterly unreal catch:

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on the call for Garrett Wilson's ridiculous TD catch. #MNF pic.twitter.com/wIrdy4XYEu

Jordan Schlansky revisits "Conan in Italy."

Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon braved the Hot Ones gauntlet.

The Always Sunny guys discussed the D.E.N.N.I.S. System episode.

Aerosmith -- "Sweet Emotion"

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Roundup: Mel Tucker Responds to Allegations; LeBron Wants to Play in the 2024 Olympics; Aaron Rodgers Injured - The Big Lead

Episcopal Academy graduate Ashley Sessa has envisioned herself becoming an Olympian with the U.S. womens national field hockey team since she was 14 years old. Thats the first time she made the junior national team.

Now, shes working toward making that dream a reality with the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon.

Sessa spent last year at North Carolina, where she helped the Tar Heels to an undefeated season and their 10th NCAA field hockey championship. She has a waiver from school this semester to train with the national team as it starts preparing for Olympic qualifiers.

I could have not taken the waiver and done school, Sessa told The Inquirer, then watch the team either qualify or not and try out for the Olympic team. But I dont want to just come for the good parts. I want to be there if we qualify or not. I want to put in the effort every day in practice.

I want to be with the team, train with them, and be with them through the good and bad. Thats what makes me feel accomplished.

Theres a limited number of waivers given out by the national team each year. National team head coach David Passmore approached Sessa last fall about the waiver.

Its up to you, she recounted him telling her. Its your education. Youre taking a year off, so no hard feelings if you dont want to take it.

It was a no-brainer, Sessa said, to take the opportunity. She also decided to enter her name into the transfer portal to have a fresh start when she rejoins a college program. So far, she has visited Maryland, Iowa, Michigan, and Penn State, all of which finished in the top 10 in the NCAAs RPI rankings last season.

READ MORE: Penn field hockey opened its season against two top-10 teams and learned a lot from the experience

I committed my freshman year of high school [to UNC], Sessa said. I definitely grew as a player. I know what I want now. I think getting more of a family vibe with my next school and finding a place where I feel like I belong. It was a hard decision at first. But I realized I grew as a person, and that place wasnt for me.

Sessa, a 5-foot-3 forward/midfielder, started every game in her freshman year at UNC and finished third in scoring with nine goals. When the season ended, she turned her focus to the FIH Pro League.

This past June, she traveled to Ireland and Belgium for league play. Team USA finished last among the nine countries competing.

However, facing countries like the Netherlands and Australia, which already have qualified for the 2024 Olympics, was eye-opening, Sessa said. She realized theres much more room for growth, which motivated her to continue training.

READ MORE: Young Olympic-level athletes are heading back to school. Heres how they balance homework, sports, and life.

Learning new tricks mentally, whether its how to handle the refs, how to handle a tight game, or, if youre playing someone not as good, how to not have your game level drop, Sessa said. I think getting that experience against the best players in the world, thats how Ive grown.

Then growing as a person, maturing, and having to travel a bunch. Figuring out how I live on my own at such a young age, thats something that Ive learned.

Sessa had a few weeks in July to spend time with her family and hold a few field hockey clinics near her hometown, Schwenksville. She then moved to live with a host family in Charlotte, N.C., where the national team will train until October.

From Oct. 20-Nov. 5, the national team will be in Santiago, Chile, for the 2023 Pan American Games. A win would secure a spot in Paris. A top-three finish would grant the U.S. a berth in an Olympic qualifying tournament, which will be in Spain and China.

The training has been demanding, with 6 a.m. wake-ups, lifting, and watching film, but the best part, Sessa said, is growing with her teammates.

Ive grown up playing against or with these girls, so Ive known them for a long time, she said. Getting to see people grow with skills, personality, maturity, I think is a spectacular thing to witness. I have a lot of trust and support with this team, and Im excited to see where we go from here.

Its not an easy feat to qualify for the Olympics the U.S. women last made the Games in 2016, finishing fifth, and their only medal, a bronze, came in 1984. Sessa, however, is committed to the process of getting there, whether its in 2024 or 2028, when the Olympics will be held in Los Angeles. The 2028 Games will be the first time the Summer Olympics are in the U.S. since 1996.

I dont just want to be there, I want to play a major role in it, Sessa said of qualifying the Olympics. I want to help the team win and grow as a player. I want to make a difference with the score line, but also I dont want to be selfish. I want to make other people look good.

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Episcopal Academy graduate Ashley Sessa has her sights set on the Olympics - The Philadelphia Inquirer

The names are what draws attention, as such a collection of names should. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant thats enough star power to make a nation take notice. A basketball globe, even.

Certainly, thats enough firepower to put Dennis Schrder in his place.

To be clear, and unequivocal, whenever the NBA sends its best American players to compete against the rest of the world, the ones headed to the Hall of Fame or regulars on the All-NBA list, theyll be just fine. The day is coming when that wont be the case. But as good as the rest of the world has gotten, that day isnt here yet. Americas best is still preeminent, which is why America has won the last four Olympic gold medals.

But its clear USA needs its best, or least a few of its best, to survive the gauntlet that has become international basketball. Typically, the U.S. mens basketball team doesnt send its best to the FIBA World Cup, which NBA stars treat more like the regular season with the Summer Olympics being the playoffs. Even before this latest black eye on American hoops, the elites of the modern era were looking to Paris as their platform. Stephen Curry, who because of injuries has yet to play in the Summer Games. LeBron, who has been off the world stage for more than a decade. And Durant, who loves the Olympic stage.

And its Paris. What better locale for one last mission together?

But something about losing on the international stage always galvanizes the best players. The ensuing shame walk the players take always provokes an Avengers-style collaboration. We saw it with The Dream Team. We saw it with The Redeem Team. And now, after USA finished fourth in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, NBA stars are uniting like Autobots who got the signal.

Jayson Tatum. Devin Booker. Damian Lillard. Kyrie Irving. DeAaron Fox. This would be a legit All-NBA contingency.

But the real specialty of The Supreme Team being formed behind the scenes, what makes this potential collection unique from the other superstar revenge tours, is the chemistry already in place among them. This could be as much of a ready-made cohesive team as the U.S. has ever put together in the NBA era.

This is important because what America needs more than ever is a team. Not just for 2024, but as an ethos moving forward.

The massive disadvantage America is always charged with overcoming is the familiarity other nations have after years of playing together. The steady growth of international play over these last three decades means Team USA cant just overwhelm Team Kumbaya with athleticism anymore. Thats been true for a while now. Beating these other countries that boast NBA talent and experience together requires a steadily increasing talent quotient.

Its not enough to just have more talent. The U.S. needs a sensibly constructed roster ready. The U.S. needs a bent, a style of play and prototype roles. The U.S. needs enough engrained camaraderie to know how to push one anothers buttons, how to play off each other and maximize their individual strengths, and the connectedness to navigate rough patches and opponents playing out of their minds.

The team America might be taking to Paris isnt the usual sudden meshing of unfamiliar names. This roster has some kumbaya of its own to go with its ridiculous levels of talent.

LeBron, Curry, Durant, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green and Irving have shared thousands of minutes on courts together. Against each other. With each other.

Durant, Tatum, Green and Lillard all won gold together inTokyo.

Booker and Durant will have a season playing together.

But even more important is how they play. Just looking at the six who reportedly are committed James, Curry, Durant, Davis, Tatum and Green they have shooting, size, defensive acumen, a floor general and players who can thrive off the ball.

Obviously, they can create shots. But the greater value in international play is the ability to counter zones, adjust to physicality and manufacture offense on cold nights.

Add in Booker, Fox and either Lillard or Irving, and the second unit has all three levels of scoring covered with a variety of size, speed and craftiness. It should be noted all of them are accustomed to doing their thing against traps, fouls and even officials necessary in the international game.

Of the four guards considering joining the 2024 contingent Booker, Fox, Lillard and Irving only three make sense. One of those spots should go to a big man or at least a stout defender. USA will need size. Booker and Fox feel like they should be locks as players who are young enough to carry the torch moving forward. So either Lillard or Irving.

GO DEEPER

Why Team USA not winning the FIBA World Cup was not a total loss

America has a few options for the backup big man. It might be prudent to get a true big body. Brook Lopez comes to mind, as does Andre Drummond. If they go undersized big, it should be someone with a proven track record for being able to bang, rebound against bigger players and do the dirty work. Such as Bam Adebayo, who won a gold medal being that guy in 2021. Or three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney, whos become one of the best dirty-work centers in the NBA. Or Robert Williams, whose paint presence could come in more than handy.

It might be worth the investment to give that spot to Jaren Jackson Jr. He was the starting big for the fourth-place squad. But he could use experience, and certainly, life would be different for him on a team like this. Heres an intriguing name for now and the future: Evan Mobley. Hes a highly skilled 7-footer who is a good defender and rebounder, though he could use some bulk.

Anthony Edwards deserves a spot on this team. Mikal Bridges made a great case as well. They could benefit from playing with and learning from international professionals like Durant, LeBron and Green, on the short list of players with multiple NBA titles and multiple gold medals.

But Id be willing to put Bridges on ice to see if Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler are interested. Bridges wasnt quite the defensive stopper America needed. The U.S. could use an upgrade.

The distinct way these stars play is what American basketball needs on display. Their example of versatility, their unique cohesion and their vast experience are answers to the rest of the worlds strength over America. The flaws of the World Cup team, aside from its size, was the inability of the players to find other ways to be effective when their main way didnt work. And the struggles of the teams defense point directly to the waning cohesiveness. Certainly, they got along fine. But defense requires more than that. And they didnt have the luxury of time to develop chemistry on that end.

The homeland is down on the pros after the U.S. lost three of its last four games. The reputation of hoop in the States must be avenged after losses to Lithuania, Germany and Canada.

Cue the explosions in the background. Cue the dramatic music. Queue the closeup shops of serious stares and shiny uniforms. Que the Zack Snyder-style of super-fast- to super-slow-motion cinematography. Cue the confident strut of basketballs American heroes.

USA basketball needs a team. This one sounds supreme.

(Photo of LeBron James and Stephen Curry: Noah Graham / NBAE via Getty Images)

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Thompson: To rule the Olympics, Team USA needs to call in The Avengers - The Athletic