International Hoops 🌍DB & KD are unstopped!

Phoenix Suns stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker showcased their elite shotmaking abilities during Team USA’s practice session in London on Sunday.

Ahead of Team USA’s final exhibition game against Germany on Monday, the dynamic duo was unstoppable, with no defender seeming capable of containing them.

Durant, USA men’s basketball’s all-time leading scorer, has yet to feature in the team’s first four exhibition games due to a calf strain, but he returned to practice late last week. Team USA coach Steve Kerr expressed hope that Durant could play in at least one of the last two friendlies.

Booker, on the other hand, is coming off a five-point performance in Team USA’s narrow 101-100 victory over South Sudan yesterday and a three-point outing in the friendly against Serbia. Across all four exhibition games, Booker has scored a total of 33 points.

The game against Germany is scheduled to tip off at 12:00 p.m. MST on FOX. Team USA’s first game of the 2024 Paris Olympics is set for one week from today, July 28, against Serbia at 8:15 a.m. MST.

Kevin Durant is accidentally struck in the eye by LeBron James during an iconic chalk toss

LeBron James did not anticipate that his iconic chalk toss ritual would result in chalk particles entering Kevin Durant’s eyes, but that is precisely what transpired. Durant was observed standing in close proximity to LeBron as he performed his chalk pass prior to the United States’ match against South Sudan in London. KD’s reaction was amusingly exaggerated as a result of the chalk landing in his eye following the delivery.

Despite KD’s theatrics, the chalk did not cause him any significant harm or injury. Although he did not participate in the United States’ match against South Sudan, he is anticipated to receive his first minutes at the Olympics in Paris, as he is recovering from an injury. LeBron James was granted another opportunity to embody the role of a hero in his professional career.

For Team USA, LeBron James had an exceptional performance, recording 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. He made the game-winning layup at the conclusion of the game, giving Team USA the lead and narrowly avoiding an embarrassing and confidence-shaking loss to South Sudan. This was his most significant bucket.

James expressed his enthusiasm for late-game situations and close games following the victory, stating that the sensation of victory is significantly more gratifying when it is seized from the jaws of defeat.

Team USA will be optimistic that their challenges against a significantly inferior nation, such as South Sudan, are merely an anomaly and not indicative of the events that will unfold at the Olympics. Nevertheless, this encounter demonstrates that the squad and coaches must continue to refine certain aspects of their game in the future.

Who is capable of preventing Team USA from achieving its full potential?The gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics is widely regarded as the most likely outcome for Team USA. This is the case nearly every four years, given the country’s extensive talent pool. However, it is even more pronounced this year due to the fact that they are sending some of the league’s most exceptional players to the summer tournament.

Joel Embiid addressed Team USA’s prospects at the tournament and appeared to minimize their status as the favorites. He observed that the players of Team USA are now older and that other teams also have accomplished players. It seems that Embiid is uncertain about the status of Team USA as the contenders.

Team USA is the presumptive favorite for a reason, regardless of Embiid’s opinion. The nation is also a favorite when entering any tournament, as it is the home of the world’s finest players. However, in recent years, the greatest players in the world have declined to represent them in tournaments, as it consumes their off-season from the NBA.

However, following their humiliating defeat to Germany at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the players resolved to remain with Team USA in order to demonstrate their status as the finest in the world. If Team USA were to fail to secure the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, all of this effort and grandstanding would be rendered entirely futile.