As the Olympics kick off, big, bold and colorful signs and banners go up in several places, acknowledging the biggest basketball attraction in a city that anticipates its magnificence.
But enough about San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama.
Team USA had its first practice in France on Thursday at the Palais de sports Marcel-Cerdan. This was the gym where French sensation Wembanyama got his first start before joining the Spurs.
However, as USA gears up to face Serbia on Sunday for the Olympics, there is still no word on Kevin Durant and his calf injury and when he will finally play.
Durant attended practice four times but did not play in any of the five exhibition matches. Coach Steve Kerr said his status remains uncertain.
Kerr said: “There are no expectations other than he’s supposed to practice, we’ll scrimmage, then take it day by day.”
Durant said he felt rejuvenated and is good enough to stay on the team and play at some point in the Olympics.
Durant said: “Each day is getting better, another intense practice and we’ll see how it feels.”
With Durant absent, Kerr will probably start with the five players he had for most of the exhibition games, pending a last-minute change: Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker.
“We’re not traveling around anymore,” Kerr said. “We’re here. We got six games. We get through pool play, advance, then it’s the NCAA tournament.”
Team USA had some tension against South Sudan and Germany, and Kerr said he believed those lapses will not follow the team to the Olympics.
“We need 40 minutes of forced attention and focus,” Kerr said. “We can’t let teams outplay us, effort and energy wise, as we did.”
The pool play will hold in Lille, France’s most populated city, at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium. The site was chosen, partly because Paris only has one arena that can house basketball games. Bercy will host gymnastics next week.
FIBA, the national governing body for basketball, voiced complaints when that location was announced two years ago. The NBA commissioner Adam Silver also expressed his displeasure. Lille is two hours from Paris, near the Belgium border, making it inconvenient for a popular Olympics sport.
Due to the logistics, Team USA will travel back and forth for three matches, in a private car, and stay in a hotel in Paris. The following week, the medal stage will move to Paris for the games.
When asked which country he is most looking forward to playing, Curry said: “Whoever’s in the gold medal game.”
That mindset is perfect for a team that once again projects as dominant.
“We have another level we can get to,” Kerr said. “It’s time to lock in, that’s for all of us, coaches and players, to get to that point, mentally, strategically.”
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