"Close to putting Bron and Steph in a group chat": Draymond Green candidly admits to last-ditch strategy amid stressful semifinal
Team USA's 95-91 win over Serbia in the Paris Olympics semifinal on Thursday had Draymond Green nervous. The two-time Olympic gold medalist, watching this year's campaign from home after failing to make the final roster, nearly started a group chat with LeBron James and Steph Curry at halftime.
“My heart was in my stomach watching this game," Draymond said on his podcast The Draymond Green Show."I was this close to putting Bron and Steph in a group chat."
The Americans were down 11, causing panic among fans about the star-studded roster failing to make it to the gold medal game.
However, Steph Curry's 36 points and a 16-point triple-double from LeBron James kept the USA afloat in a worrisome three-quarter stretch before the two got some support down the stretch to close the game.
Draymond Green was glued to the contest like every other fan, sharing his thoughts on the matchup as the USA staged an impressive comeback, expressing his frustration with his Warriors coach Steve Kerr's schemes and rotations.
"Sometimes you have to scrap them rotations," Green tweeted.
"Steph and Bron not tired," Green wrote in another post, suggesting Kerr shouldn't be resting the two at a crucial juncture.
None of this mattered much in an excellent display down the stretch by LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid. The quartet combined to score 27 of USA's 32 points in the final frame while also defending at a high level to limit Serbia to 15 points.
Draymond Green has the ultimate faith in LeBron James-Steph Curry led 2024 Olympic team
Draymond Green has spoken highly of the 2024 Paris Olympics USA basketball roster. He considers them the better unit than the 1992 Dream Team.
"I'm taking the 24' team seven days a week," Draymond said on his podcast. "I think the 2024 team beats the 'Dream Team' five out of seven games. I just think the versatility on that team, the star power, the scoring, I don't think the 'Dream Team' can do anything with that."
Draymond cited the game's evolution and increased competition as factors that give the 2024 Team USA an edge over the 1992 'Redeem Team.'
Thursday's 17-point turnaround sumps up what the Warriors forward tried explaining to his viewers about the 2024 Team USA's depth and firepower that brought them back into a contest, which they could have easily lost with a deficit that big.