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By Joe Vardon
December 25, 2021 4:43 PM EST
2 Comments
Newly minted Team USA coach Steve Kerr said there may not be a training camp this summer, which would be a significant departure from how USA Basketball has done business during offseasons.
Kerr, who was formally announced as successor to Gregg Popovich as Team USA’s coach this week, said he and new managing director Grant Hill are considering simply hosting a coaches’ camp this summer instead. When Kerr and Hill took the stage together in San Francisco this week, Hill said they were considering a number of changes to a USAB program that is a thrice-defending Olympic gold medalist, but struggled in the previous World Cup and is facing a host of challenges when it comes to fielding rosters entirely of NBA players.
“I’m in touch with Grant all the time and we’re discussing those things,” Kerr said on Christmas. “Obviously there is COVID complications as well, but with the World Cup not being until the following summer, there’s not a huge sense of urgency to get a bunch of players together. It’s more about getting the coaches together and really starting to put a foundation together.”
The next World Cup is in southeast Asia in 2023, and the next Olympics are in Paris in 2024. Among the challenges Team USA faces is getting two-year commitments out of its stars, to build continuity. In the past, Team USA created a long list of potential national team candidates in off years, and invited them to a training camp of a few days in Las Vegas. If Team USA was to hold a camp this summer, Kerr and Hill would have to be making their list of players to invite right now.
Kerr’s day job, coaching the Golden State Warriors, brought him to Phoenix on Saturday to face his newest Team USA assistant, Suns coach Monty Williams.
“He’s one of the most impressive people I’ve ever been around in terms of the way he handles his team, the way he handles himself,” Kerr said of Williams. “He’s a high character man of dignity and he’s also just really smart. Going back to his New Orleans days, every time we’ve played them his teams were well prepared, they run great stuff. You can see his demeanor on the sidelines, calm and confident.”
Williams has previous Team USA experience coaching under Mike Krzyzewski. Kerr's other assistants are Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and Gonzaga's Mark Few.
(Photo: Noah Graham / NBAE via Getty Images)
Joe Vardon
Tue
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Joe Vardon
Tue
Hill and Kerr feel the pressure of knowing that keeping the American men's Olympics gold-medal streak alive will require player commitments.
Colts create clear playoff path as Carson Wentz delivers with depleted line in win over Arizona Cardinals
Nets blow 23-point lead but overcome LeBron James' 39 points to beat the Lakers
Steph Curry, Warriors defeat Suns on road to take over NBA's top seed
Spurs assistant Becky Hammon being seriously pursued by Aces, Liberty for head coaching vacancies: Sources
Clippers star Paul George has torn elbow ligament, will be evaluated in 3-4 weeks
Baker Mayfield throws four INTs as Packers hold onto No. 1 playoff seed in NFC
Aaron Rodgers breaks Brett Favre's record for most TD passes in Packers history
Chiefs activate Tyreek Hill from reserve/COVID-19 list; Travis Kelce questionable vs. Steelers
Ravens to turn to Josh Johnson at QB with Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley out
