Even with all the talent and experience Team USA has, the star-studded roster almost lost to South Sudan recently. This prompted head coach Steve Kerr to put the blame on himself for almost allowing the African squad get a win against them.
The United States’ Olympic basketball team narrowly escaped a stunning upset against South Sudan in a close 101-100 victory in London. Despite trailing by as much as 16 points, Team USA staged a furious second-half comeback.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James‘ clutch layup in the final seconds put the U.S. ahead for good, as they survived a last-second attempt by South Sudan to win the game. Marial Shayok led all scorers with 25 points for the African nation, which is set to make its Olympic debut in Paris.
The matchup was a stark contrast in experience, with the American roster boasting a combined 189,038 points in regular-season NBA careers compared to just 1,228 for South Sudan. However, the underdogs came out firing, shooting 61% in the first half and outscoring the Americans 21-3 from beyond the arc before halftime.
The Reason Why Steve Kerr Blames Himself For South Sudan’s Near Upset Against Team USA
After the game, various takes were given about Team USA’s performance against South Sudan. Kerr himself shouldered the blame for almost losing against the emerging African squad, as seen in an article written by Joe Vardon for The Athletic.
“I did not do a great job preparing our team,” American coach Steve Kerr said. “I think we did not focus enough on what they’re capable of and that’s on me.”
South Sudan’s basketball team is making its Olympic debut in 2024, led by former NBA star Luol Deng as its president. Coached by Royal Ivey, the team qualified for the Olympics after a strong performance at the 2023 World Cup.
Although they boast less experience and talent on the court, the near upset against a formidable American squad has made South Sudan more interesting for basketball fans. Fortunately, even if Kerr didn’t get to prepare Team USA that well, they still came out as winners.
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