LeBron James claims Steve Kerr went at Team USA players after poor outing vs South Sudan in exhibition matchup
On Thursday's episode of "The Shop," recorded in Paris during the 2024 Olympics, LeBron James revealed Team USA coach Steve Kerr's reaction to their narrow win in their first encounter against South Sudan. James claimed that Kerr went at the players for their performance during a practice session following the exhibition matchup, which was held in London ahead of the Olympics.
"Coach wasn't happy about our performance the first time we played South Sudan so he kind of got out on us and we went at each other during practice," Bron said.
Team USA's exhibition matchup against South Sudan could have concluded in a historic upset had it not been for LeBron James' game-winning layup in the final eight seconds to put the team up at 101-100.
In the episode, James also delved into his mindset during the final seconds of a game that allows him to make the winning plays.
"I slow it down as well. Trying to be patient, not try to be over-exertive, don't try to predetermine what I'm going to do, and just kind of read and react. It's still read and react even with the clock going 9-8-7-6...," LeBron said.
"If you had a stopwatch, those seconds is ticking, they look like they're going fast, but for some odd reason on the basketball court, for myself when the time look like they're going fast it's actually slowing down for me. So I'm able to slow it down and be able to just see what's going on on the floor."
Watch the segment from 21:26 here:
The exhibition matchup against South Sudan was the closest any team got to defeating the star-studded Team USA. They remained undefeated throughout their 2024 Paris Olympics campaign to clinch their fifth consecutive Olympics gold in the event.
LeBron James talks about workplace relationship with son Bronny
In a first-of-its-kind occurrence in the NBA, LeBron James will be joined by his son, Bronny James, on the LA Lakers roster in the upcoming season. In the same episode of "The Shop", James also talked about what his workplace relationship with his son would be like.
"We already laid that down," Bron said. "He cannot call me 'Dad' in the workplace. Once we leave out of the private facility and the gates close, I could be 'Dad' again in the car if we ride together, at home I could be 'Dad'. No, he got to call me 'two-three', or 'Bron', or 'GOAT' if he want to. It's upto him."
"It's easy for me because I've been calling him 'Bronny' for so long. It's not like I've been calling him, 'Hey son'. So it's easy for me, it's going to be an adjustment for him but we cannot be running down the court and he'd be like, 'Dad, push the ball up! Dad, I'm open! Dad, come on!'. No, you cannot do that."
Bronny James was picked 55th overall by the Lakers during the 2024 NBA Draft.
Meanwhile, at age 39, LeBron James remains one of the league's finest players and will begin his 22nd season in October. NBA fans eagerly await the father-son debut.