Team USA news: Nikola Jokic’s Serbia will be one of three squads the national team is set to face in the initial stage of the upcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris. The Americans have been drawn into Group C, where they will need to perform well if they hope to live up to their titles of being the heavy favorites to bag the gold medal.
At this point, there’s no denying that national squad head coach Steve Kerr already has one eye fixed on what is expected to be another redemption run for the Americans.
Steve Kerr Reveals Jalen Brunson’s Significance for Team USA
Team USA recently revealed a 41-man player shortlist for the upcoming international tournament. There was no shortage of superstars on the list, with the likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant leading the way.
For Coach Kerr, however, it’s New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson who he considers to be one of the most important members of the yet-to-be-finalized roster:
“There’s a reason he’s on our list. Because he’s a great, great player and high character, a leader,” Kerr said, via Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “He’s everything you want as a player. He’s high on our list and he’s definitely somebody we’re considering.”
Based on Kerr’s comments here, it appears that Brunson should be a shoo-in for the final roster. For the one-time All-Star, it will be an opportunity to make amends for USA’s forgettable fourth-placed finish in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where he was the squad’s starting point guard.
While the FIBA World Championships ultimately ended in bitter disappointment for Brunson and the Americans, the Knicks star is still able to see the silver lining. According to the 27-year-old, one of the highlights of the experience was being able to work alongside Coach Kerr:
“The experience was great, especially under Steve [Kerr], understanding his philosophy and getting to know him,” Brunson said Monday. “We built a great relationship. Got to understand how his mind works.”
Kerr and Brunson will now be looking to rekindle this flame in Paris this summer.
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