The latest iteration of the Dream Team – the US basketball team competing in this year’s Summer Olympics – has just faced real danger in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the legendary LeBron James rescued his team from the shock of South Sudan right before the Olympics.
James surrounded by South Sudan players
It’s hard to imagine that the Dream Team, a group of NBA stars that shine the world over, could… almost lose to a completely unknown team from the Black Continent!
But veteran coach Steve Kerr has just warned his famous students that the worst could happen if the US players do not play their best.
The South Sudan basketball team almost created an earth-shattering shock when they faced the Dream Team last night, July 20, at The O2 Arena (London – England).
They only lost by a minimum score of 1 point: 100-101, in the match they were leading continuously in 3/4 rounds (1st, 2nd and 4th quarters). If James was not so excellent, the consequences would have happened.
This year, 39 years old, James still showed that he deserves to be the NBA’s all-time scoring king, when he scored 25 points, including a basket to score the decisive points when the match had only 8 seconds left to end.
The East African opponent continuously led 26-24 in the first half, 32-20 in the second half (and led 58-44 before halftime), continuously causing difficulties and surprises for the NBA stars.
In the third quarter, the Dream Team tightened up the team and won by a huge margin of 37-18. However, in the fourth quarter, they continuously fell behind and only took the lead by 1 point thanks to an excellent play by James.
Coach Kerr breathed a sigh of relief after the dramatic 101-100 victory: “It was a good ending for us. Just to feel it, to feel what it will be like in Paris.”
“It was a great experience for us. It was a good reminder that when we play teams like that, it’s the biggest experience of their lives and we have to expect that from every team that plays against us.”
“If we don’t play the right way and don’t come with the right energy and focus, we can get beat, no matter who the opponent is,” coach Kerr said.
“But when we have that drive and if we find that, we can overwhelm other teams. It’s a great reminder of two things: If we don’t play our best, we can be beaten.”
With 20 seconds left in the game, JT Thor (who has played for the Charlotte Hornets for the past three seasons) hit a 3-pointer to put South Sudan up 100-99.
After James’ two-point layup put the Dream Team up 101-100, the East African team had another possession, but Carlik Jones and Wenyen Gabriel both missed their chances.
Coach Kerr had to praise his opponents: “South Sudan played very well. I did not prepare the team well. We were not focused enough and their ability to surprise was my fault.”
“I think that really allowed South Sudan to gain confidence from the start. When we picked up the pace in the second half, they hit a bunch of three-pointers and felt good about themselves.”
James – the hero of the Dream Team – shared: “We have to keep moving forward. There are many teams that we face who have trained for a month or more, we have only had two weeks together.”
“So every game, every shoot, we have an opportunity. We have to try to make the most of those opportunities, not back down!”, shared the two-time Olympic champion and four-time NBA champion.
