LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, even Joel Embiid… In Paris, in a year, the United States could land with one of the best teams in their history. The Olympic Games always make the eyes of American stars shine and the Federation will undoubtedly be spoiled for choice when it comes to composing its workforce.
But the new GM of Team USA, Grant Hill, warns that there will be no privileges, and especially that several players present at the World Cup will be in Paris.
“We are in a transition phase in our program, and we will see a lot of these guys next summer”, assures Grant Hill. “They are not in their prime yet, but they are very hungry and want to be here. And they are really good. I can’t wait to see their potential. Whoever the players will be on the pitch, we believe we have the qualities necessary to achieve our goals. »
About talented young players, hungry“, Grant Hill refers to 2006 when the Americans failed at the World Cup, beaten in the semi-finals by Greece. In the workforce, there were young LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul. Two years later, they were in Beijing with the “Redeem Team“.
“I remember 2006 with LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade. All these guys then came back, and they weren’t yet the players they would later become, or they are today.” Hill continues.
“There are basketball players here who really deserve this opportunity to represent our country next summer”
But before thinking about 2024, we must already qualify, and we must observe how this inexperienced team on the international level will come out of it when the serious things start.
“First of all, we have to see how things are going to develop this month, how we are going to perform in the World Cup. The truth is that we’re likely to see a number of players express interest in the Olympics throughout the year, guys who aren’t currently with us.”
And when superstars raise their fingers to apply for the Olympics, Grant Hill warns there will be “difficult decisions to make”. “Let’s see how things will develop, because there are basketball players here who really deserve this opportunity to represent our country next summer” he concludes.
Photo credit : United States Basketball
