Brian Windhorst detailed Steve Kerr’s comments on Joel Embiid not playing for the U.S. men’s basketball team against South Sudan.
Lille, France — Team USA advanced to the Olympic basketball quarterfinals after a 103-86 victory over South Sudan on Wednesday. This game contrasted sharply with their pre-Olympic exhibition earlier in the month when LeBron James secured a 101-100 win with a last-second layup.
South Sudan, ranked 33rd in the FIBA World Rankings, still has a reasonable chance to advance to the quarterfinals, depending on their performance against Serbia on Saturday.
Jayson Tatum, who didn’t play in Team USA’s opening game, returned to the starting lineup, replacing Jrue Holiday, and scored four points in 17 minutes. Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton were left out of the first Olympic game, while Joel Embiid sat out the second game after scoring four points in 11 minutes on Sunday.
The bench contributed significantly with 63 points, led by Bam Adebayo’s 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and seven rebounds, and Kevin Durant’s 14 points.
The United States will conclude pool play against Puerto Rico on Saturday.
Key Takeaways from Team USA’s Second Olympic Game:
Kerr’s Strategy
Criticism of coach Steve Kerr may arise in the future, but currently, his unconventional methods are proving effective. Against a fast, 3-point-shooting South Sudan team, he opted for a wing-heavy starting lineup with Tatum at power forward and James at point guard, excluding Embiid and Holiday. His second unit, featuring defensive players and the offensive talents of Durant and Anthony Edwards, dominated South Sudan.
Kerr, aware of the discussions around benching Tatum and Embiid, defended his choices by emphasizing the commitment to winning a gold medal. He stated that Embiid and Holiday would start in the next game against Puerto Rico.
Tatum’s Perspective
Tatum, after scoring four points along with five rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes against South Sudan, spoke about his benching experience. He described it as humbling and noted the empathy it gave him for teammates who often play limited minutes.
Embiid and the French Fans
Embiid, recovering from a knee injury and a recent illness, didn’t play on Wednesday and faced relentless booing from the crowd in Lille for not joining the French team. Despite the boos, Embiid engaged with the crowd, and his teammates supported him. Bam Adebayo and Anthony Edwards acknowledged the crowd’s sentiments but reinforced their solidarity with Embiid.
Derrick White’s Performance
Derrick White, recently selected over Jaylen Brown to replace the injured Kawhi Leonard, has silenced critics with his strong performances. He scored 10 points, with three steals and a block on Wednesday. Throughout both games, White has made impactful defensive plays, and the Americans have outscored opponents significantly when he is on the court. Kerr praised White as a phenomenal player who excels under FIBA rules.
Team USA will face Puerto Rico next as they aim to continue their winning streak and secure a gold medal.