As the FIBA Basketball World Cup approaches, Steve Kerr, the head coach of the USA national team and the Golden State Warriors, discussed the team’s preparation period in a recent media briefing.
Kerr began the conversation by reminiscing about Kobe Bryant, who, if alive, would have celebrated his 45th birthday.
“I have great memories of the time I played against him and then practiced with him towards the end of my career. It was truly a special experience to have the fortune of being in the NBA at the same time as one of the greatest players in the history of this sport. We all think of Kobe to this day; we know what he meant to the league and to all of us,” stated Steve Kerr.
Having the opportunity to speak w/ Steve Kerr, on the sidelines of Team USA training, he praised the Greek National Team. "Walkup is an excellent point guard who gave us some trouble. We have to be sharpened to beat them".
— Christos Tsaltas (@Tsaltas46) August 23, 2023
Οn @SportalgrG. https://t.co/YcEyaIZjsZ #FIBAWC #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/Xielio6zw8
In 2019, the USA suffered its second-worst result in history at the FIBA World Cup. Now, Kerr aims to guide the younger talents to reclaim the team’s triumphant path.
“My experience working with Gregg Popovich has shaped the way I’ve chosen the team. We wanted a group of guys who could become a team in a short period. We have players with a great sense of unity in this team; they’re connected and really enjoy this experience,” Kerr shared, reflecting on his collaboration with Popovich.
“It was a fantastic experience for me to have the opportunity to be an assistant to Pop. You feel what it’s like to build a team in six weeks. It’s entirely different from the NBA. You can’t build continuity, years of experience, and assemble a team. You do everything on the spot.”
Preparations was good
As part of their preparation for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, the USA team triumphed in all five of their friendly matches.
“The most important thing was getting used to FIBA rules and playing together. We had exceptionally tough opponents ahead of us. It’s worth noting that we have confidence, and matches against Spain and Germany held significant importance for us.”
The USA will compete in Group C alongside the national teams of Jordan, Greece, and New Zealand. The competition begins with a match against New Zealand on August 26th.