Team USA had a much better outing against South Sudan in Olympic group play than their exhibition contest. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the Americans 103-86 victory to improve to 2-0 in the Olympics and sit atop Group C.
The story of Team USA on this night was the performance of their bench as Bam Adebayo and Kevin Durant led four players in double-figures with the bench really setting the tone. The contest also saw a different starting lineup with Anthony Davis and Jayson Tatum replacing Joel Embiid and Jrue Holiday.
The change in lineups and rotation is something that everyone on Team USA is prepared for, however. LeBron noted that for everyone on this team, it is about playing at the highest level for the minutes they are out on the floor, via Aris Barkas of Eurohoops.net:
“We know that’s part of what the coaching staff may do throughout the course of the tournament,” James said. “So, you know, we know it could be anybody’s number any given night, and it’s not about who starts, it’s not even about who finishes, it’s about when you’re in the game, you know, the minutes that you play, you play at a high level, and I think everybody did that in the minutes they played tonight.”
Against South Sudan it was Embiid who wound up making the sacrifice, going from starter to a DNP, but the big man was engaged throughout the contest, supporting his teammates all game long.
But it was the Team USA bench that really turned the tide against South Sudan, and LeBron credited them for getting the job done, emphasizing how dangerous this team is from top to bottom:
“It’s great,” James said. “I mean, you know, we’ve got 12 guys that can go out and get the job done, you know, any given night. And, you know, our second lineup came in and did that tonight for us. Defensively, that’s where it started, and then offensively, they were great as well.”
The Team USA bench combined for 66 points on the night and as James noted it was on both sides of the ball where they shined. Overall Team USA held South Sudan to 42.1% shooting and forced 19 turnovers and with LeBron leading the way they are looking every bit like the favorites to take home gold most expected.
LeBron James focused on winning with Team USA, not milestones
LeBron James also set another milestone against South Sudan, becoming the third player in USA Basketball history with at least 300 points in the Olympics, joining Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. But that is not something LeBron is concerned with at all.
The Lakers star said his only focus is on winning gold for Team USA and that is all he is thinking about. While he acknowledges what an honor it is, James is worried about the team and bringing home that gold medal.
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