LeBron James is making it clear that he means business as the highly competitive Olympics approach. At 39 years old and carrying the honor of being the country’s flag-bearer, James showed that his role is far from ceremonial.
LeBron James Dominance in London
On Monday night, James delivered a dominant performance in front of the largest crowd ever to watch a basketball game in London. Fans, opponents, and even his Team USA peers were left in awe. Facing Germany, the reigning FIBA World Cup champions, James took control of the game in a manner reminiscent of his teenage years. He scored eight crucial points, coupled with steals, rebounds, and sheer brute force, leading Team USA to a 92-88 victory. His final stats were impressive with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, though they hardly captured his overall impact.
During a pivotal stretch in the fourth quarter, James went on a run that included baskets, steals, rebounds, and free throws, causing his teammates to react like excited children at recess. “We’ve got a great group of guys, and it doesn’t matter if it’s me, Joel [Embiid], Steph [Curry], or when [Kevin Durant] comes back,” James said. “Everybody’s going to have a moment, and that’s what the team is all about. We all root for one another no matter how the game is going.”
LeBron James kicked off the game with two powerful dunks within the first three minutes. After shooting 3-of-3 in the fourth quarter against South Sudan on Saturday, including a game-winning basket with eight seconds remaining, James was relentless again on Monday, scoring the last 11 points for Team USA.
Team USA’s Challenges and Performances
Despite an undefeated 5-0 pre-Olympic tour, Team USA showed areas for improvement after two less-than-stellar performances in London. Joel Embiid was a standout, contributing 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Embiid started slowly due to offseason recovery but has been steadily improving. “People who watch me know that every season it takes me a couple of games to get going, and this is no different,” Embiid said. “That’s the reason we’ve got preseason games. I feel like myself and I’m going to keep going and I’m going to be playing at that MVP level I’ve played for the last five or six seasons.”
Steph Curry added 13 points but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 1-of-7 three-pointers. Team USA’s overall three-point shooting was a mere 29%.
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Germany’s Strong Performance
Germany, featuring four current NBA players, showcased their excellent team chemistry, a key factor in their World Cup title win last summer. The Germans moved the ball well, were active defensively, and displayed impressive size. They excelled at taking care of the ball and were aggressive on the offensive glass.
Team USA focused on addressing their defensive issues, particularly dribble penetration, which had led to problems against South Sudan. Jrue Holiday and Anthony Edwards applied heavy ball pressure, resulting in better defensive performance. However, Germany still managed 14 second-chance points and capitalized on Team USA’s turnovers, getting 12 more shots despite shooting just 36%.
Coach Steve Kerr’s Optimism
“We can get a lot better,” Team USA coach Steve Kerr said. “We’re getting to a place now where we’re getting comfortable with rotations and I think guys are getting familiar with each other. … I think we can tighten up our game and get better. And that’s the plan here in the next couple of weeks.”
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner led Germany with 18 points. Dennis Schroder, last summer’s World Cup MVP, had 10 assists but struggled with his shooting, making only 3-of-15 attempts. “We played with good tempo and then, yeah,” Germany coach Gordon Herbert said, “somebody named LeBron James made some plays at the end.”
In conclusion, LeBron James’s leadership and dominance were pivotal in Team USA’s victory over Germany. As the Olympics near, Team USA looks to refine their game and build on their strengths, aiming for gold with James leading the charge.
