(Los Angeles) LeBron James, Stephen Curry and the American team began their Olympic preparation with a victory against Canada, 86-72, on Wednesday in Las Vegas.
Five days after arriving in Las Vegas to begin their training camp, the NBA stars who make up the new American basketball “dream team” were able to warm up with a first test against the Canadians, 3it is of the last World Cup in 2023, just ahead of the United States, with a largely revamped squad.
For the first time in their careers in an official game, LeBron James (7 points) and Stephen Curry (12 points) wore the same jersey. They are tasked with leading Team USA to a fifth consecutive Olympic title in Paris (July 26–August 11).
Both were lined up in the starting 5 with Joel Embiid, Devin Booker and Jrue Holiday.
Rivals for over a decade at the top of the NBA, LeBron James and Stephen Curry showed their joy at playing together, notably with a counterattack exchange during the 3e quarter-time, concluded by a lobbed pass from the Golden State Warriors leader for a dunk from the Los Angeles Lakers boss.
PHOTO STEVE MARCUS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Devin Booker and Stephen Curry
“We’re both basketball lovers. I missed it in the first half, we finally connected with that lobe. It’s fun, playing the game we love,” LeBron said with a smile.
Philadelphia pivot Joel Embiid, long courted by France, played his first minutes with the American jersey (5 points).
“We will improve”
In a match without much intensity, both teams displayed a logical clumsiness at the start of preparation, with the necessary time to adapt to the specificities of international basketball compared to the NBA.
“We have to do better offensively, we’ve only had a few days of training. There are also turnovers (15). We’re going to improve, that’s normal, we still have time,” said coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors’ usual leader, positively.
Coming off the bench, Minnesota winger Anthony Edwards brought his energy and finished as the game’s top scorer (13 points).
Kerr, assisted by Tyronn Lue (Clippers) and Erik Spoelstra (Heat), tested another five on the floor, with Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo.
Kevin Durant did not enter the game, as did Derrick White, who had just arrived in the team to replace Kawhi Leonard, who was out.
With Barack Obama looking on, in high demand for courtside selfies, Canada featured its own NBA stars with RJ Barrett (12 points), Jamal Murray (5 points) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10 points).
Team USA will now fly to the United Arab Emirates for their next friendly against Australia on Monday before facing Serbia on July 17.