Team USA Prepares for Olympic Clash with South Sudan
- Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, recently held a discussion about the role of fear in sports with the U.S. Olympic basketball team.
- He emphasized the importance of confronting and overcoming fear to achieve peak performance.
- Kerr's insights aimed to motivate athletes ahead of upcoming competitions.
As the U.S. men's basketball team gears up to face South Sudan in Olympic pool play, coach Steve Kerr emphasizes the importance of respecting their opponents. Following a strong victory over Serbia, a win against South Sudan would secure the Americans a place in the quarterfinals. South Sudan, making its Olympic debut, has no current NBA players but showcased its potential by defeating Puerto Rico and narrowly losing to Team USA in a recent friendly. Star player Steph Curry, who has been under Kerr's guidance for a decade, acknowledges the need for caution. Despite the U.S. being favored by over 40 points, Curry highlights the value of their previous encounter, which allowed the team to experience South Sudan's speed and shooting prowess firsthand. The Bright Stars, coached by former NBA player Royal Ivey, are known for their offensive strategy, consistently featuring five 3-point threats on the court. In their last matchup, South Sudan made 14 3-pointers against the U.S., demonstrating their capability to challenge top teams. Curry notes that the exhibition games have been instrumental in identifying areas for improvement and understanding the competitive landscape. Among South Sudan's key players is Marial Shayok, who scored 24 points in their last meeting, making him a focal point for Team USA's defensive strategy. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid, who opted to represent Team USA over France, faced mixed reactions from the crowd in Lille, highlighting the complexities of national representation in international sports.