When it comes to Team USA basketball, the power of celebrity often means more to the spectators than what they do on the court. Despite some recent difficulties at the Rio Olympics, the Americans are still huge favorites to win gold again as they head into do-or-die play on Wednesday, and much of the basketball world cares about what they do when their time is their own in South America.
The only phrase that could logically come next is: Beach Day!
Monday saw Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving and Co. getting their bare feet all sandy and smacking some volleyballs around. Despite their world-leading athleticism, though, you will see none of the beautiful, mathematical, Beethovian orchestration of spikes and sets that the Olympic version of the sport offers. This is just, like, a bunch of dudes:
This after Durant, DeAndre Jordan, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler watched the American women play volleyball the night prior, and cheer them on with a full-blown “U-S-A!” chant.
Perhaps next we will see these large men try their hand at an even more misfitting game. I vote to see DeMarcus Cousins bring his perma-scowl to the back of a horse and fight for medals in the equestrian category.
