Entering the day, the USA has only failed to secure the gold medal one time since nba players were permitted to attend the Olympics. That being in 2004. That year was marked by very low buy-in from star players resulting in USA bringing more of a B team with second tier stars and rookies. That team struggled throughout the Olympic play and eventually came away with bronze.

Had every player been all in and willing to accept invites what would have the ideal team USA looked like in 2004?

  • PPMSAH343642BEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    Off the top of my head, I’m going with something like

    Kidd/Billups

    Kobe/Ray Allen

    Pierce/Battier

    Garnett/Marion

    Duncan/Sheed

    As we’ve seen this year, you’re really only playing 10 guys so I’m ignoring the last two spots. I’m looking for the right mix of role players like Jrue/White have been this year while maintaining solid levels of shooting and defensive versatility. The Battier pick can probably be swapped out for someone else as he wasn’t quite in his prime yet. Plenty of possible variations on this would work just as well, but this came to mind for me first.