Oh, if David Stern could see this.
The late NBA commissioner’s dream of growing the highest levels of basketball far outside of the United States’ borders couldn’t be more evident than the reigning, three-time NBA MVP heading into the opening game of his Olympics tournament to face Team USA.
Nikola Jokić gets top billing every time he steps on the court for the Denver Nuggets, but he’ll have a tall task in leading Serbia into Group C play against a Team USA loaded with basketball icons up and down the roster. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum lead a host of future Hall of Famers into Paris, with the USA looking for an eighth gold medal in nine tries since the Dream Team first featured NBA players at the Olympics in 1992.
Date: Sunday, July 28
Time: 11:15 a.m. ET/8:15 a.m. PT
Where: Pierre Mauroy Stadium | Lille, France
TV channel: USA Network
Streaming: Peacock, NBCOlympics.com
Stay with Yahoo Sports for live updates throughout the game as Team USA takes on Serbia in one of the most highly anticipated Olympic men’s basketball group stage matchups of the modern era.
Steph leads the U.S. onto the court and begins a layup-rebound line. It’s an interesting, circular contrast to the left-to-right warmups of Serbia. @ArtButSports would be all over this. pic.twitter.com/G6OHKVg399
Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) July 28, 2024
Serbia enters first, running halfcourt-to-end line jogs, drills, knee lifts and kicks. Jokic is one of the slowest. Maximum energy conservation. Masterful gambit.
Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) July 28, 2024
Just in time for Team USA to face Serbia on Sunday, they got some positive news about one of their stars. Kevin Durant, who missed all five of Team USA’s pre-Olympics exhibition games with a sore calf, has been cleared to play in the opening game.
After missing camp and exhibition games due to calf injury, Kevin Durant has been cleared for action in Team USAs Olympic opener vs. Serbia today. pic.twitter.com/aZ5mN5QpFo
Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 28, 2024