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You’ve also coached the U.S. men’s Olympic team. Celtics fans want to know why you didn’t really play Jayson Tatum, one of the league’s superstars, in the 2024 Olympics. You said that it was a “math problem.” What did you mean? We had LeBron James and Kevin Durant ahead of him. Both guys had incredible F.I.B.A. experience. They’re two of the greatest players of all time. Jayson happened to be playing the same position as them. If I had just said, “I'm going to play the best five guys” or whatever, then, yeah, Jayson’s probably out there. But you’re trying to put together a team. And so, ironically, the guys I played ahead of him were also Boston Celtics: Derrick White and Jrue Holiday. We needed guys who were on-ball defenders, facilitators, who would make Steph and LeBron and Kevin better. Jayson wasn’t really suited for that role as well as those other guys. And that’s the whole point of U.S.A. Basketball: take twelve of the best players on earth and try to make it work.
The conspiracy theorists claim you were trying to foment discord among the Celtics. Steve Kerr: Yeah. The 2020 election was rigged, too.
Jamahl Mosley, though, still has many fans around the league after Orlando posted a top-three defense in both 2023-24 and 2024-25 and thanks to both his ability to relate to players and also still get out on the floor with them. He has USA Basketball experience on his resume, too, and has been mentioned for some time as a likely candidate in New Orleans — if available — should the Pelicans find themselves in the market for a new coach after the regular season concludes this week. New Pelicans lead decision-maker Joe Dumars is said to hold Mosley interest and could opt to hire his own head coach after installing associate head coach James Borrego as Green’s interim replacement after a 2-10 start. As Stein reported in November, sources say former Lakers coach Darvin Ham is another likely Pelicans target if Borrego doesn’t land the full-time post.
Mike Krzyzewski on coaching the USA team: “I coached the US teams for 11 years and I told them, when we started off every team bring your egos in. I don’t believe in leave your egos at the door. That’s such BS. I want you to be who you are. And by the way, Kobe Bryant, LeBron, they would have they would have brought their damn egos in no matter what the hell anyway. But I would always tell them, I said, if you can all put your egos under one ego umbrella, call it USA, we’ll kick everyone’s a**. You know, we’ll rule the world.”
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"I looked at the stat sheet. It was pretty crazy: 40 shots, 40 free throws, 20 3s, that takes a lot of stamina, man," Houston star and Adebayo's USA Basketball teammate Kevin Durant said. "It takes a lot of energy to go out there and put those shots up and also make them, set a record, surpass Kobe as the second-highest-scoring player in the history of the game. I mean, damn. Congrats to him. Huge, huge accomplishment, something we're going to be talking about forever."
Spoelstra, the Miami Heat coach who will lead the U.S. men’s basketball team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, said Saturday he’s aware of Durant’s recent comments about the potential of playing for what would be a fifth gold medal. And the concept is clearly intriguing. “Just him saying that is incredible,” Spoelstra said before the Heat hosted Durant and the Houston Rockets. “You know, that’s the culture of USA Basketball. You just want the best American players to raise their hand and say, ‘I want to do this.’”
In a 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying game Thursday night, USA Basketball lost to the Dominican Republic, 87-79. It was the U.S.’s second loss ever to the Dominicans in men’s basketball, and first since 1989. The Americans trailed by as many as 19 and never led. Yes, a U.S. men’s basketball team did not hold a lead in an international game. “Now I am very happy because every player that comes to the (Dominican Republic) national team, they feel love for this country, for this flag,” Dominican coach Nestor Garcia said. “In our country, the people support us. This is for the Dominican people.”
FIBA Basketball World Cup 🏆: USA closing the gap! 🔥😤 #FIBAWC x #StepItUp
USA closing the gap! 🔥😤#FIBAWC x #StepItUp pic.twitter.com/J2hUWRJADD
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 🏆 (@FIBAWC) February 27, 2026
Kevin Durant, the all-time leading scorer for the United States men's basketball team, told ESPN earlier this month that he does plan on returning for another run of international play in 2028. The 37-year-old swingman, who won an Olympic-record fourth gold medal at the 2024 Games, disputed the notion that Paris was a last run. "That narrative, where did the last dance thing come from?" Durant said. "I didn't say I wasn't playing. LeBron [James] said he wasn't. You didn't hear that from me or Steph [Curry]."
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While it seems unlikely Curry, 37, will return, Durant was emphatic about his own plans. He'll be nearing 40 by then, but assuming good health, he wants in. "Hell yeah, I want to play," Durant said. "But I gotta stay on top of my game. I'm not expecting. I want to produce on the floor and make Grant [Hill, USA Basketball managing director since 2021] and whoever is making the decisions want to put me on the team. Not just for seniority; I want to still prove I can help the team win. "Today, yeah, I feel like I'll put my name in that hat."
Kon Knueppel also has opened eyes with his shooting, sources told ESPN. The Charlotte Hornets rookie, who last month became the fastest to record 100 made 3-pointers in NBA history, would help fill the void if Curry indeed steps away from international play. A major priority under Kerr was 3-point shooting, and that need won't dissipate with the coaching change.
The 6-foot-5 Haliburton played a small role in the national team's 2024 run to the gold medal, but he has good size and is a natural distributor. Assuming good health -- like Tatum, Haliburton is recovering from a torn Achilles, suffered in Game 7 of the NBA Finals -- he will be strongly considered for a return and an expanded role. That could leave a choice between Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey -- smaller guards with different playing styles. "Jalen wants to play. He would love it," a source close to Brunson told ESPN. "Tyrese would be honored," a source close to the Philadelphia 76ers guard said.
Meanwhile, Flagg, who really opened eyes among the small group of media members allowed to watch in Las Vegas in the run-up to the 2024 Olympics, could end up being an easy addition. The Dallas Mavericks rookie will be 21 when the Summer Games begin in L.A. "What I like about him, he really competes and plays hard," a source connected with USA Basketball said of Flagg. "He's good at just about everything."