Steve Kerr might have a more durable job as head coach of Group USA than Gregg Popovich

At first look, Steve Kerr has it simpler as head coach of Group USA than Gregg Popovich did in just a few years in the past. He has a model of the Dream Group in Paris that needs to be decently favored in each sport, with a number of MVP’s, champions and perianal All-Stars filling the function of “function” gamers. That’s far more than Pop may say concerning the two occasions he was concerned with Group USA.

As an assistant to Larry Brown in 2004 and as head coach in 2020 (which changed into 2021 due to COVID-19), Pop drew the quick finish of the stick. In 2004, when the group infamously misplaced to Manu Ginobili and Argentina within the semifinals and went on to win bronze (the one time group has not received gold within the Olympics since 1988), many components performed into the squad sporting a “B Group” round Tim Duncan. At the beginning, there was the Kobe Bryant drama that stored him off the basketball court docket and in a courthouse all summer season.

On high of that, the Dream Group had all retired, leaving it up a brand new era to hold the torch, and whereas the 2004 group included future gold medal winners and superstars equivalent to LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Amar’e Stoudamire, they had been all younger and effectively earlier than their primes at that time. In wanting on the roster, Allen Iverson was actually the one different in-his-prime star on the group subsequent to Duncan. The remainder of the squad featured principally function gamers who would develop into only one or two-time All-Stars, if in any respect. (Richard Jefferson, Emeka Okafor, and so on.)

Then, as Pop was lastly fulfilling his dream job as head coach forward of the 2020 Olympics after a protracted, pointless wait which will have concerned some begrudgery from former supervisor Jerry Colangelo, Pop drew the quick finish of the stick once more. Not solely did COVID-19 postpone the Tokyo Olympics to 2021, however gamers had been going to must return to a different bubble, this time out of the country with even stricter guidelines than what they confronted in Orlando the summer season earlier than. The NBA season was additionally off schedule after the late begin to the 2020-21 season, with the NBA finals ending simply three days earlier than the Olympics started.

Many of the Group USA mainstays needed no a part of the bubble or wanted the remaining (and a few within the media would have you ever imagine that not everybody desires to play for Pop), so he was once more left with a “B Group” roster, with Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard being the one true superstars on the group. Heck, even Keldon Johnson made the squad with little to no argument as a result of in contrast to this 12 months (extra on that to return), there wasn’t anybody who was being “omitted” to make room for him. (And Draymond Inexperienced shut down those that did name him out, like Kendrick Perkins, saying how essential KJ’s character was to group comradery.)

Regardless of “underwhelming” squad in comparison with what we’re used to seeing on the Olympics, Group USA nonetheless pulled it out and received the gold for Pop. Even when it was unspectacular, it was extraordinarily satisfying, with the very best second being Durant and Zach LaVine inserting their gold medals round Pop’s neck (reminder: coaches don’t get medals), fulfilling a lifelong dream of his, relationship again to not making the Olympic squad as a participant.

Which will have appeared like quite a bit to beat and one of many hardest jobs a coach of Group USA has had within the period of NBA gamers taking part, however regardless of sporting no matter model of the Dream Group this 12 months’s squad is, Steve Kerr might have it more durable, at the least from a public relations standpoint. The drama started effectively earlier than they even received to Paris, and it has principally centered round Jaylen Brown. Regardless of being the 2024 Jap Convention and Finals MVP, he was omitted initially in favor of Kawhi Leonard, who has been perpetually injured and once more missed the top of the the season and playoffs with a leg harm. Brown was not completely satisfied and partly blamed it on his ongoing feud with Nike.

Then, for causes nobody can get a straight reply on, Leonard was quickly despatched residence. Claims have ranged from the Clippers being concerned about his well being, to the identical considerations from Group USA and even to Kerr enjoying favorites and simply not wanting him there. One then would have anticipated them to exchange a ahead with a ahead and usher in Brown, however as an alternative they stunned everybody by inviting his Celtics teammate and a non-All-Star, Derrick White, claiming his match was higher they usually wanted extra protection at point-of-attack. (Can’t argue an excessive amount of with that, and naturally Spurs followers are completely satisfied to see White there, nevertheless it was nonetheless an sudden selection, to place it mildly.)

So all of the PR round one roster spot has solid a shadow on Kerr, and a few poor showings within the warmup scrimmages hasn’t helped. On high of that, managing director Grant Hill has actually not helped issues by feeding the hearth with some passive-aggressive feedback in the direction of Brown, who has been responding in variety on social media.

Regardless of the PR points, all appeared effectively and good yesterday when the US dominated Nikola Jokic and Serbia to open group play, with LeBron James and Durant wanting just like the legends they’re. However after all, it will probably’t be with out its drama. Not solely has there been a longstanding name for Anthony Davis to start out over Joel Embiid since he’s higher fitted to the quick tempo of worldwide ball, however with such a loaded roster and solely 40 minutes per sport, somebody goes to be omitted. In opposition to Serbia, it was Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton regardless of each enjoying loads within the tune-ups.

Tatum was changed by Durant, who had not performed within the scrimmages with calf soreness, and Haliburton by White, who had barely been with the group for 2 weeks. Kerr particularly received flack for not enjoying Tatum in any respect, and per ordinary for him, his explanations to the press didn’t go over effectively, particularly with followers. (He felt like an fool however wanted to make time for Durant, it’s all about match-ups, he’ll get his likelihood, and so on.)

Whereas it’s true that its laborious to make time for 12 gamers in 40 min, it was a blowout by the third quarter, and certainly gamers like Durant, James and Steph Curry may use the remaining when warranted contemplating their age. Kerr has mentioned Tatum will play of their subsequent match towards South Sudan, so meaning another person would be the odd man out. Who is aware of who that can be, however Kerr is in a way more unattainable scenario than Pop was. He’s having to handle extra participant egos and fulfill followers (a few of whom can’t put NBA rivalries apart for the sake of nation), all whereas dealing with a gold-or-bust state of affairs that was considerably there for Pop, however not as a lot contemplating the circumstances and roster he had in Tokyo.

Being the coach of Group USA is a thankless job. It’s extra concerning the gamers than even the NBA, there’s a brief window to work in, no reward, and there’s extra stress to win than maybe every other job in sports activities. Despite the fact that Pop has confronted the hardest state of affairs of any Group USA coach of the fashionable period (twice in case you embody as an assistant in 2004), Kerr may have a more durable job this 12 months. Generally, even teaching a Dream Group could be a lot to deal with.