USA Basketball beats Canada with Barack Obama sitting courtside

On Jul 11, 2024

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LAS VEGAS — Heavy favorites make for big targets.

The United States men’s basketball team found itself entangled in a chaotic mess as it took the court to launch its run to the Paris Olympics: Two stars were injured and missing in action for the opening exhibition; a third was quickly swallowed up by foul trouble; and Grant Hill, the director of USA Basketball, had just faced difficult questions about a last-minute roster change and allegations of sneaker company bias from a snubbed NBA Finals MVP. Meanwhile, the Americans’ surprising starting lineup stumbled out of the gate against a pesky rival intent on playing spoiler in front of a glitzy courtside contingent that included former president Barack Obama and dozens of hardwood legends.

The walls easily could have caved in around LeBron James, Stephen Curry and their national team counterparts, but order was quickly restored during the United States’ 86-72 victory over Canada at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday. This was a flawed debut for the gold medal favorites, but one that should be regarded as comforting given the night’s off-court distractions, on-court sloppiness and immense expectations.

“It was a slow start, which wasn’t surprising,” Coach Steve Kerr said. “You could see the rust on the offensive end. A lot of turnovers in that first half, especially. But I love the defensive intensity and the work on the glass. We needed to set a tone for how we want to play, and I think we did that.”

In the hours before tip-off, USA Basketball announced Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard would be replaced by Boston Celtics guard Derrick White on the 12-man roster. According to the program’s statement, the decision to remove Leonard was jointly reached by USA Basketball, the Clippers and Leonard because of ongoing concerns about his recent knee injury. Hill said Wednesday that he and USA Basketball’s coaching staff had evaluated Leonard’s play and progress during a four-day training camp before parting with the six-time all-star.

“Ultimately, he was sent home,” Hill said, noting the taxing logistics of the month-long Olympic run. “This is a sprint, not a ramp-up. We were open, honest and understanding through it all. Your heart goes out to him. We have to do what’s best for the team, protect the team and give ourselves the best opportunity for success. We just felt we had to pivot. We all tried. We gave it a valiant effort.”

USA Basketball believed that White, a reliable outside shooter and skilled defender, can fill the same role in Paris that he held during the Celtics’ championship run. His case was aided by his previous experience playing in the 2019 FIBA World Cup and his availability on short notice. The 30-year-old guard is expected to join his new teammates in Abu Dhabi, the next stop on their five-game exhibition slate.

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, however, seemed dissatisfied with the decision. Despite winning NBA Finals MVP and Eastern Conference finals MVP, Brown was passed over by USA Basketball, even though three of his teammates — Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and White — are headed to Paris.

Brown had previously criticized Nike, the official…