The 2024 United States Men’s Olympic Basketball team is the embodiment of the Olympic ideal. Hear me out. I don’t write this for attention. This is a fact.
The Big Three
Kevin Durant, Step Curry, Lebron James and their teammates came to Paris out of a love for the game and a burning desire to prove they are the best in the world
Amateurism
Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter
In an ironic twist, the team also embodies the original Olympic Creed of amateurism. Initially, Olympians were only those who had the means to indulge in sports for the mere pleasure and enjoyment of the endeavor. Not receiving compensation heightened the purity of their participation.
The pay our Olympic basketball players will receive to participate in the Games is de minimis. These eight and nine figure earners will pay more in fines if they pop off about an NBA referee then they will get for playing in the Olympics. They have given up their summer vacations to work for peanuts. This selflessness is a prime demonstration of being an Olympian.
Talk about sacrifice. All the players have families, ancillary interests and business ventures they put on hold in order to play in the Olympics. Most importantly, during their traditional off season they disrupt preparation for the new NBA season, and risk injury to play more basketball to defend their nation’s place of prominence as the originator and best in the world of basketball.
Multi-Dimensional
The presence of the NBA stars at the Olympics helps to unselfishly spread the word of USA Basketball. They are evangelical ambassadors of the game. They may pick up a few new fans from playing in the Olympics but highlight reels of their jaw dropping skills already dominate social media. They are at the Games out of Goodwill.
Money can’t buy a spot on the Olympic Basketball team. It’s an exclusive club and even NBA players don’t want to cede the recognition to posers. Lebron and KD have each played in four Olympic Games. These men know each Olympiad is a unique and special experience. They baste in the spirit and symbolism of the Games.
It’s Now A World Game
Steph Curry got the memo and admitted “the gap has narrowed” between USA’s basketball superiority and the rest of the world. In fact, eighty-one of the one hundred and forty-four men’s basketball players in the Olympics have NBA experience. The USA has depth thanks to our population of 330MM and is the only team completely composed of NBA players. On the other hand, foreign teams are led by every NBA MVP since the 2017-2018 season.
Actually, 2022-2003 MVP Joel Embiid, chose to play for the United States although he had the option to play for his birth nation of Cameroon and France. He selected to play for the United States because he wanted to be with the best.
In any event, three time MVP Nikola Jokić leads Serbia and two time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo plays for Greece. These guys are also NBA Champions. In addition, France is the home of Victor Wembanyama who is projected to be the next generational superstar in the NBA.
Noah Lyles received lots of heat last year when he pondered how the NBA Champions are labeled World Champions. He asked, “World Champion of what, the United States?” Kevin Durant retorted, “Someone help this brother.” Stephan A Smith went a step farther and called Lyles, “Flagrantly ignorant.” Then two weeks later the USA lost to Germany in the World Basketball Championships semifinal.
Game On
The USA knows they can only send their best to the Olympics if they want to win a gold against these guys. Our guys are at the Games to really hoop, not vacation.
Truthfully, for me the most touching moments of the Olympics are watching the underdog and unexpected triumphants. So far, the USA Men’s Gymnastics team’s first medal (bronze) since 2008 and Alex Sedrick’s last second dash for bronze to get Women’s Rugby’s first Olympic medal are my favorite goosebumpy moments.
At times, it may look like the basketball team is dialing it in and pacing themselves. All superior teams and athletes take their foot off the throttle every now and then. I can promise, however, that our NBA players are at the Games with the same motivation and desire as the athletes’ whose lives are transformed by being an Olympian. The best way to ruin an Olympic experience is to be an overwhelming favorite who goes home without the Gold.