"Humbled" - Steve Kerr reflects on Team USA's close call against Serbia
Team USA Men's Basketball established a strong reputation as the gold standard in the sport dating back to the days of "The Dream Team" and "The Redeem Team." However, their dominant stature was tested when they went up against Nikola Jokic and Serbia to secure a 95-91 victory on Thursday.
Following the win, coach Steve Kerr reflected on one of the most highly competitive Olympic games.
During the 6:24 mark of the second quarter, the USA was down as much as 17 points with lackluster defensive intensity and a subpar offensive rhythm. Stephen Curry's performance in the first half kept the team in the game as he ended up with a game-high 36 points.
Kerr's comments were shared by Boston Globe National's Gary Washburn on X, formerly known as "Twitter."
"One of the greatest basketball games I've ever been a part of," Kerr said. Humbled by being part of it."
Serbia was sharp from three-point range, helping them catapult to a dominant scoring output in the first half. They finished with 38.0% shooting from beyond the arc. Led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the team looked well-prepared for Team USA as they ran through a zone defense that caused headaches and confusion on the court.
However, the USA eventually powered through, courtesy of timely stops in the fourth quarter and their big three athletes, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry, leading the way.
It was one of the most electric basketball games in this year's Olympics, and Steve Kerr felt honored to be a part of it.
Team USA coach referenced classic NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game
After Team USA finally got past Serbia to secure their ticket to the gold medal game, Steve Kerr revealed that he and his coaching staff recalled an iconic collegiate basketball game with a similar intensity level.
"Our coaches were saying Villanova-Georgetown for all of our older readers & viewers," Kerr said (per The Washington Post's Ben Golliver. "[Serbia] played the perfect game. They forced us to reach the highest level of competition that we could find. Our guys were incredible in that fourth quarter."
The game referenced was the 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game between the Villanova Wildcats and the Georgetown Hoyas. Villanova entered the game as the underdog team while Georgetown was the defending champions, with Knicks legend Patrick Ewing leading the way.
The Wildcats pulled off the upset 66-64 victory over the Hoyas, courtesy of an incredible 78.6% shooting for the ball game.
While different in scope and stakes, the USA vs. Serbia game had a similar competitive atmosphere. Team USA took all the best punches from Serbia, resulting in moments of doubt and concern among American fans.
However, their victory was another reminder that they still had three of the greatest basketball players of all time on their squad.