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| Former USA Basketball player Austin Reaves believes that this year's roster featuring the likes of LeBron James and Steph Curry is "tough to beat" as another Olympic gold is within their reach. USA Today Sports (file photo) |
MANILA—Former USA Basketball player Austin Reaves believes that the current incarnation of the national team is "tough to beat" in the Paris Olympics men's basketball event.
The Los Angeles Laker, who returned to the Philippines last week this time as the new ambassador of sports betting platform ArenaPlus, manifested that Team USA is a favorite for the gold.
For one, Reaves, who was part of Team USA's 2023 roster to the FIBA World Cup in Pasay, sees this year's team as so stacked to the point that Kevin Durant, arguably the greatest player now to don the national team jersey, is now willing to come off the bench.
"I've seen a video of KD on Instagram asking if he expects to be a starter or come off the bench for the remainder of his Olympic run. He was like, 'Yeah, we're rolling right now,'" said Reaves.
"For a guy that caliber to score all these points—he has the most points ever for Team USA—for him to just be so coachable and take on the challenge of coming off the bench... you gotta tip your hats to a guy like that. He really cares about winning."
Durant already played under Team USA head coach Steve Kerr as they teamed up with the Golden State Warriors during the late 2010s, winning two championships together with Durant winning the Finals MVP twice too.
Reaves also said that Team USA is now reaping the benefits of staying patient in terms of jelling as a team.
From a squad that was nearly beaten by South Sudan in a tune-up game, Team USA posted blowout wins in all their Olympic matches up to the quarterfinals.
Team USA's biggest challenge was in its rematch against Serbia in the semifinals as the latter, led by reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, raced to a 17-point first-half lead and was still up 15 in the third quarter.
However, a 32-15 fourth quarter highlighted by a game-ending collusion by Durant, Steph Curry, and LeBron James gave Team USA the come-from-behind win to now assure itself of at least the silver.
Team USA will play host country France in the final early Sunday (Philippine Time), and if Reaves is to be interpreted, it would take a Herculean effort from the Frenchmen's main guys, primarily NBA stars Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama, to steal the gold from Team USA and avenge their 2021 championship game defeat.
"They have all the talent. It's gotta take an unbelievable performance from somebody else to beat them," Reaves said.
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