USA Basketball

nbaplatformservices

Steve Kerr and Grant Hill met with the media to discuss Steve Kerr being named head coach of the United States Men's National Basketball team.

steve-kerr-press-conference-after-being-named-head-coach-of-usa-mens-basketball-team

Steve Kerr Press Conference After Being Named Head Coach of USA Men's Basketball Team

Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr has been named the 2022-24 USA Basketball Men’s National Team head coach, it was announced today by USA Basketball Men’s National Team Managing Director Grant Hill.

Kerr will lead the USA National Team in 2022-24, which will include all USA Men’s National Team training camps, and, if the USA qualifies, the 2023 FIBA World Cup that is scheduled to be held in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia from Aug. 25-Sept. 10, 2023, and the 2024 Summer Olympic Games that is scheduled for July 26-Aug. 11 in Paris, France.

Gonzaga University Head Coach Mark Few, Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra and Phoenix Suns Head Coach Monty Williams will complete the 2022-24 USA National Team coaching staff as assistant coaches.

“I’m incredibly honored and humbled to represent our country as the head coach for the USA Basketball Men’s National Team,” said Kerr. “It’s a thrilling opportunity and I’m excited for the challenge. Obviously, there are numerous people who I need to acknowledge and thank, notably Grant Hill, Jim Tooley and Sean Ford of USA Basketball, and of course Gregg Popovich and Jerry Colangelo, who gave me the opportunity to be an assistant coach on the most recent USA staff.

“I’m also beyond excited to work with three coaches I have enormous respect for in Erik Spoelstra, Monty Williams and Mark Few. Coaching the USA Men’s National Team comes with great responsibility—one that calls for a group effort with a team of coaches committed to the team, to the goal and to each other—and I couldn’t ask for a finer group of high character individuals to help me lead our national team. Our goal, of course, is to win and make our country proud. We will work hard to do so.”

Kerr most recently served as an assistant coach for the 2017-21 USA Basketball Men's National Team and was part of Popovich's gold medalist coaching staff for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, and the 2019 USA National Team that competed in the FIBA World Cup in China. By helping the USA claim gold at the Tokyo Olympics, Kerr became the first USA Basketball National Team coach to also have earned a gold medal as a player in a FIBA senior level competition, having won gold at the 1986 World Cup.

The USA men have won four consecutive Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020) and have claimed FIBA World Cup championships in two of the past three competitions (2010, 2014).

steve-kerr-named-2022-24-usa-basketball-mens-national-team-head-coach

Steve Kerr Named 2022-24 USA Basketball Men’s National Team Head Coach

Andy Fahey

Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr has been named an assistant coach on the 2019-20 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, it was announced today. Kerr, along with Indiana Pacers Head Coach Nate McMillan and Villanova University Head Coach Jay Wright, join the staff of USA and San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich to complete the USA National Team coaching staff. The coaches will lead the USA National Team in 2019-20, which, if the USA qualifies, could include the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China (Aug. 31-Sept. 15, 2019) and the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan (July 24-Aug. 9, 2020).

"This is an incredible opportunity and one I’m extremely grateful for," said Kerr. "I had the good fortune to participate in our USA Basketball program as an amateur, and to have the chance to return to the world stage three decades later and work under Pop, one of my former coaches and a mentor, is a tremendous honor. I also look forward to working with Nate and Jay, two dynamic and highly-successful coaches, as we together embrace the opportunity to represent our country and attempt to ultimately bring home the gold."

"I am honored and fortunate to have such gifted coaches share this USA Basketball responsibility with me," said Popovich. "Steve Kerr, Nate McMillan and Jay Wright are not just knowledgeable, dedicated individuals, but they exhibit the creativity, tenacity and respect for the game needed to compete in the international arena. I look forward to joining them as USA Basketball attempts to extend the stellar success they've enjoyed over the past 12 years."

Entering his fifth season as an NBA head coach in 2018-19, Kerr has guided the Golden State Warriors to three NBA championships, four-consecutive NBA Finals appearances, the NBA’s single-season mark for wins (73 in 2015-16), the NBA’s best single-season playoff record (16-1), which included a playoff-record 15-game win streak to begin the 2017 NBA Playoffs, an NBA Coach of the Year award in 2015-16 and the three winningest seasons in franchise history. In his four seasons as the Warriors head coach, Golden State has compiled a 265-63 regular season record (.808 winning percentage), while compiling a 63-20 record (.759) in the NBA Playoffs.

Kerr, who won five NBA championships during a 15-year playing career, now owns eight championships as a player and coach, joining a list of those with multiple titles as both player and coach that includes Phil Jackson (two player/11 coach), KC Jones (eight player/two coach), Tommy Heinsohn (eight player/two coach) and Bill Russell (11 player/two coach). Kerr is just the third coach in NBA history to win three championships in his first four seasons at the helm, joining Phil Jackson (1991, 1992, 1993) and John Kundla (1949, 1950, 1952) as the only coaches to do so.

Kerr was a member of the USA Basketball team that captured the 1986 World Championship title in Madrid, the last American men’s senior team composed strictly of amateur players to capture a gold medal. A finalist for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team, Kerr was also a member of the 1988 USA Select Team that finished 6-0 during a European tour.

"Led by coach Popovich, we have assembled an incredible coaching staff for the USA National Team, and we are excited to have Steve Kerr, Nate McMillan and Jay Wright join the team as assistant coaches," said Jerry Colangelo, who has served as the managing director of USA Basketball Men’s National Team program since 2005. "It’s special that each coach has prior USA Basketball experience as either a player or coach, and each coach has compiled a successful and impressive resume. I’m very confident that the USA Basketball National Team is in excellent hands the next two years."

Since the formation of USA Basketball’s National Team program in 2005, USA Men’s National Teams have compiled a spectacular 88-1 record and claimed top honors in six of seven FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions (through 2016 Olympics). Currently, the USA National Team enjoys a 76-game win streak (53 straight wins in FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions, and 23 consecutive wins in exhibition games). The USA men have won three-straight Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012 and 2016) and, for the first time ever, back-to-back FIBA World Cup gold medals (2010 and 2014). Since first fielding a team of legendary NBA stars in 1992, USA Basketball national teams featuring NBA players have claimed gold medals in 14 of 17 international basketball competitions and compiled a 134-7 record in those official events, while also posting a record of 51-1 in exhibition games.

warriors-head-coach-steve-kerr-named-assistant-coach-on-2019-20-usa-basketball-mens-national-team

Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr Named Assistant Coach on 2019-20 USA Basketball Men's National Team

Warriors Shorts: Day 1 of 2018 USA Basketball Minicamp

warriors-shorts-day-1-of-2018-usa-basketball-minicamp

Warriors Sound: Dubs at Work in USA Basketball Minicamp

warriors-sound-dubs-at-work-in-usa-basketball-minicamp

gswkcracchiolo

In recognition of their incredible performances at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games and as members of the 2016 USA Basketball Men’s National Team this past summer, Kevin Durant has been selected to receive the 2016 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year Award alongside co-captain Carmelo Anthony.

This is the second such honor for Durant and the third for Anthony.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” Durant said. “I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to play for my country, and I tried to go out there and play as hard as I could and represent as much as I can. I’m grateful that I played with such great teammates and a great staff that were able to help me get this award.”

“It is an incredible honor to represent the USA at the Olympics, and to be given this award for the third time, it’s just humbling,” Anthony said. “Without Kevin Durant, the rest of my teammates and an incredibly dedicated coaching staff, earning such a prestigious award like this would not be possible.”

At the 2016 Olympics, both players started in all eight games to help the USA to an 8-0 record and a gold medal from Aug. 6-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Anthony averaged a team second-best 12.1 points to go with 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.3 minutes per game, while Durant averaged a team-leading 19.4 ppg. to go with 5.0 rpg. and 3.5 apg. in 28.6 mpg.

“The leadership of Carmelo and Kevin on the 2016 team was crucial and obvious to anyone who watched the team play or interact, ” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO/Executive Director. “Both players played a vital rose in leading our team to gold, and we are grateful for their dedication and commitment.”

This year marks the 37th time USA Basketball has presented its Male Athlete of the Year award, which was established in 1980 to recognize a USA Basketball athlete who, during the year of the award, made a significant impact on the success of his team’s performance.

“Along with their amazing talent, Carmelo and Kevin brought experience and veteran steadiness to a team that had 10 first-time Olympians on it,” said Mike Krzyzewski, USA Men’s National Team and Duke University head coach, as well as the 2016 USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the Year. “Their leadership, often by example, and ability to handle difficult situations professionally and effectively were huge assets to the 2016 USA Basketball National Team. Their games translate very well to international basketball, and their numbers reflect that. I greatly admire both of these men – first as immensely talented basketball players, but even more as better people who are tremendous role models in our sport.”

Anthony became USA Basketball’s first four-time men’s Olympian, the USA’s first four-time men’s medalist and the world’s first men’s player to win three gold medals.

At the 2016 Olympics, he shot 39.3 percent from the field (33-84 FGs), 40.0 percent from 3-point (18-45 3pt FGs) and 61.9 percent from the line (13-21 FTs).

Against Australia on Aug. 10, Anthony recorded single-game tournament highs for 3-point field goals (9) and 3-point attempts (15), while also recording the fourth-highest scoring output (31 points) and tying for the second-most field goals made (11).

His 31 points against Australia on Aug. 10 tied for the second-highest, single-game output in the U.S. men’s Olympic record book, and his 15 3-point attempts in that game set a U.S. men’s record.

Among all players in the 12-team field, Anthony ranked third in 3-point field goal attempts (45), tied for third in 3-point field goals made (18) and tied for 10th in points scored (97).

In the U.S. men’s career Olympic record book, Anthony ranks first in games played (31), points (336), field goals made (113), field goals attempted (262), rebounds (125), 3-point field goals attempted (139), free throws made (53) and free throws attempted (71); and second in 3-point field goals made (57).

He also helped the USA to a 5-0 exhibition record with wins over Argentina (111-74 on July 22), China (106-57 on July 24 and 107-57 on July 26), Venezuela (80-45 on July 29) and Nigeria (110-66 on Aug. 1). He started in four of the five exhibition games and averaged 13.6 ppg., 6.8 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 19.2 mpg.

Durant is one of 19 two-time U.S. men’s Olympians and one of 17 to win two gold medals.

At the 2016 Olympics, he shot 57.8 percent from the field (52-90 FGs), 58.1 percent from 3-point (25-43 3pt FGs) and 81.3 percent from the line (26-32 FTs).

Durant recorded the tournament’s best single-game shooting percentage by going 6-of-6 from the field against France on Aug. 14.

Among all players in the 12-team field, Durant ranked first in 3-point field goals made (25) and minutes (28.6); second in points scored (155); third in field goal attempts (90) and field goals made (52); fourth in defensive rebounds (37); tied for fourth in 3-point field goal attempts (43); fifth in points per game (19.4); tied for fifth in free throw attempts (32); and sixth in 3-point percentage (.581).

Three times he led the USA in scoring, including 25 points and six assists against China on Aug. 6, 27 points against Argentina in the quarterfinals on Aug. 17 and 30 points against Serbia in the gold medal game on Aug. 21.

In the U.S. men’s career Olympic record book, Durant is first in 3-point field goals made (59); second in points (311) and 3-point field goal attempts (108); and third in field goals made (101) and free throws attempted (59).

In the U.S. Olympic single competition record book, he is second only to himself in points (155 in 2016 and 156 in 2012) and 3-point field goals made (25 in 2016 and 34 in 2012).

During the USA’s five exhibition games, Durant started in four contests and averaged a team-high 15.6 ppg. to go with 2.8 rpg. and 2.8 apg. while playing 19.6 mpg.

kevin-durant-honored-with-2016-usa-basketball-male-athlete-of-the-year-award-alongside-carmelo-anthony

Kevin Durant Honored with 2016 USA Basketball Male Athlete Of The Year Award Alongside Carmelo Anthony

gswbwitt

Klay Thompson scored 30 points to lead Team USA to a 100-97 victory over France on Sunday.

USA Basketball at 2016 Summer Olympics: Preliminary Round

For the second time in three days, the U.S. Men’s National Team won a preliminary round game by three points, this time narrowly defeating France 100-97 on Sunday. After struggling to get his shot to fall through the previous four games, Klay Thompson found his groove, scoring a game-high 30 points, including seven three-pointers. Kevin Durant was perfect from the field on his way to 17 points and seven rebounds, while Draymond Green added his typical activity and defense.

As one of the top shooters in the entire world, it was only a matter of time before Klay Thompson got on track. Both he and Kevin Durant were aggressive in the early going, which seemed to get them in an offensive flow as the game wore on. Durant, who took a total of four shots against Serbia on Friday, converted four field goals in the opening five minutes on Sunday pacing Team USA to an early 12-9 lead. Thompson would drain his first three-pointer less than a minute later and follow that up with a layup on the ensuing possession, hinting at a sign of things to come. When the first quarter came to a close, Team USA led 30-24, with Durant and Thompson leading the team in scoring.

Both Durant and Thompson began the second frame on the bench, re-entering the game with 7:06 remaining in the half and the Americans holding a 36-26 advantage. Thompson would add another typical three-pointer, after which both he and Durant were fouled on three-point attempts in a 53-second span, combining to convert all six resulting free throws. Team USA would take a 55-46 lead into halftime, with the two Warriors tied for the team lead with 13 points each. Thompson, who had scored a total of 11 points through the previous preliminary round games, had already secured a personal Olympic-high.

In the third frame, Thompson would splash that high out of the water. His three-pointer at the 6:15 mark put the Americans up 62-52, and ignited one of those hot streaks that he is known for. He’d add four more three-pointers through the remainder of the quarter, three of which were assisted by Durant. Draymond Green checked into the game for the first time with 4:45 remaining in the frame, immediately earning Team USA an extra possession with his activity and effort, which Thompson capitalized on by draining one of his shots from beyond the arc. Thompson would account for 15 points in the quarter, pushing USA’s lead to 81-69 heading into the fourth and final frame.

Despite possessing a double-digit lead, the fourth quarter wouldn’t come without a scare for the Americans. For the third consecutive game, Team USA permitted their opponent to hang around, and although it didn’t come down to a missed shot in the final seconds like it did against Serbia, France certainly made things interesting. France opened the quarter on a 10-2 run to pull within 83-79 with just over six minutes remaining, but Klay Thompson, who had checked back into the game at the 6:41 mark, sank a jumper on the ensuing possession to stem the tide. Following a dunk from France’s Joffrey Lauvergne, Kyrie Irving and Durant provided the highlight of the contest, connecting on a high-flying alley-oop as Irving fell to the floor. Team USA would keep a multiple-possession cushion through the remainder of the game, up until Antoine Diot’s three-pointer with one second left that secured the game’s final score of 100-97.

With the victory, Team USA completes preliminary round play with a perfect 5-0 record and secures the top seed in Group A heading into the quarterfinals. The U.S. Men’s National Team will next play on Wednesday, when they’ll take on the fourth place finisher from Group B.

thompson-shoots-usa-to-victory-over-france

Thompson Shoots USA to Victory Over France

Team USA improved to 4-0 in preliminary round play of the 2016 Olympics in Rio after defeating Serbia 94-91 on Friday.

For the second consecutive game, the U.S. Men’s National Team survived a scare, this time narrowly defeating Serbia 94-91 on Friday. Team USA raced out to an early lead, but Serbia trimmed it down as the game wore on, missing a potential game-tying shot with 2.0 seconds remaining in regulation. Kyrie Irving led the American squad with 15 points, while Kevin Durant wasn’t far behind with 12 points to go with five rebounds. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green combined for three points, four rebounds and five assists.

As he has done so often throughout international play, Kevin Durant got the scoring started, sinking all three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt from the corner on the American’s first offensive possession. Durant would then find Paul George open on the wing for another trey before following up DeMarcus Cousins’ fast break dunk with a converted technical free throw, giving the U.S. a 9-0 lead to open the game. Klay Thompson, who came off the bench for the second-straight contest, sank his first shot of the game, a corner three-pointer with 5:00 remaining in the opening frame, increasing the U.S. Men’s National Team’s lead to 17-5. That lead would grow as large as 27-9, but just as it appeared the American’s would run away with the game, Serbia began to make a charge.

They’d score the final six points of the first quarter to pull within 27-15 at its conclusion, and continue their burst into the second. In fact, following the Americans’ 9-0 start, Serbia would play Team USA even through the remainder of the first half, outscoring them 26-23 in the second quarter to pull within 50-41 at halftime. Durant trailed only Kyrie Irving’s 11 points for the team lead at the time, shooting a perfect 1-of-1 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line for a total of 9 points.

The second half would follow a similar theme as the second quarter, as Team USA proved unable to generate any further separation from the pesky Serbian squad. Denver’s Nikola Jokic’s dunk at the 6:03 mark brought Serbia within 58-53, their smallest deficit since Durant’s opening free throws. The U.S. Men’s National Team would rebound slightly, outscoring Serbia by five throughout the remainder of the frame to take a 72-62 advantage into the fourth and final quarter.

From the quarter’s outset, however, it was clear Serbia was not going to go down without a fight. Jokic opened the frame with a three-pointer, and the Serbians found themselves within 77-73 with 7:29 remaining in the game. Paul George sank a three-pointer at the 4:06 mark to increase Team USA’s lead to 90-82, and Carmelo Anthony’s jumper with 2:12 remaining seemed as if it might be the final blow to the Serbian hopes, putting the Americans in front 94-87. However, Team USA would be held scoreless throughout the rest of the game, providing Serbia a chance to complete a dramatic comeback. That chance materialized in a wide-open three-point attempt from the wing with 2.0 seconds left, but the shot went long, and the Americans escaped with a thrilling 94-91 victory.

Now 4-0, Team USA will look to complete the preliminary round in undefeated fashion when they play France on Sunday.