“We just need to see these other countries get their acts together and be more competitive”, said Colangelo.
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Leading the victory was the vast performance both in offense and defense of Golden State player Kevin Durant unleashing a game high of 30 points along with four assists, three rebounds, three steals and a block displaying the same level of fierce intensity which he showed in the London 2012 Olympics. Just because it’s ‘Melo, I would love to pass him. USA Basketball managed to win at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain without Durant, who surprisingly pulled out of his commitment after realizing his heart wasn’t in it. Krzyzewski and Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo accepted his decision and welcomed back Durant this summer, when the team was unlikely to escape this tournament unscathed without at least one superstar takeover.
On a team of mostly first-time young Olympians, it was the veterans Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant who stole the Rio show as the United States won their third straight men’s basketball gold.
“Some of the programs are going up, some are going down, but the healthiest thing for the game of basketball is to have competition around the world that makes it even more intriguing”, he said. “We’ve taught the world the game”. For almost a month, Durant got to play the game he loves, bond with some new and old friends – and win – without sweating any manufactured controversies or external second-guessing.
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“[Former Thunder assistant and current Team USA assistant] Monty Williams used to tell me that every day; don’t let anybody steal my joy”. Everyone would love to see that. We’ve taught their coaches, players – look at the number of (international) players in the National Basketball Association, look at the number of global players in college today, in the states. I’m not going to be making excuses for anyone about our (dominance). “I want to see the level raised”. This team was often criticized for its lack of its lack of ball movement and a propensity for too much 1-on-1 basketball on offense.
