Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Kerr welcomes 'embarrassment of riches' as LeBron James and Team USA beat South Sudan

Updated 01/08/2024 at 09:20 GMT

Head coach Steve Kerr said his Team USA squad's biggest strength is their remarkable depth at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Captained by LeBron James, the USA men's basketball team defeated South Sudan 103-86 in their second group-stage match. The victory in Group C guarantees the USA a place in next week's quarter-finals, while South Sudan require a win or close loss against Serbia to progress.

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Head coach Steve Kerr hailed his star-studded Team USA basketball squad including LeBron James and Kevin Durant for putting egos aside and committing to their golden goal.

Team USA defeated an impressive South Sudan 103-86 in an Olympic group-stage match on Wednesday, taking the American side to a perfect 2-0 record in Group C and guaranteeing them a spot in the quarter-finals next week.

Joel Embiid sat out the entire game against the Olympic newcomers as Jayson Tatum rotated into the starting lineup, but it was Bam Adebayo who stole the headlines from the bench, profiting from the absence of the former NBA MVP and showcasing the extraordinary strength in depth that Kerr possesses.

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"We have an embarrassment of riches on this roster, that's the best way to put it," Kerr said.

"I mean these guys are all champions, All-Stars, Hall of Famers, however you want to put it. So the whole thing is are we committed to the goal? That's it. That's it.

"The NBA is so popular worldwide and the regular season is kind of a soap opera, and so we understand that and social media takes over and everything becomes so dramatic.

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"And I think we need to give these guys more credit. They're here to win a gold medal. They're pros. They're committed to each other."

Captain James finished the match with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists, making him just the third player in US history to score 300 points for the national team, alongside Durant and Carmelo Anthony.

Adebayo scored the most points for the Americans with 18, while South Sudan's Nuni Omot scored the most points in the match, netting 24 for the Bright Stars.

The USA are competing for their fifth consecutive men's basketball gold medal in Paris, while South Sudan, ranked 33rd in the world, are playing in their first Games.

The Americans will play their final group stage game against Puerto Rico, who are yet to win a match in Paris, at 16:15 UK time on Saturday.

South Sudan will require a win, or a close loss, against Serbia at 20:00 on Saturday if they are to progress.

Jovic's Serbia rebound against Puerto Rico

Team USA outlasted Serbia in their opening game of the Olympics, winning the second half 52-35 despite 20 points from reigning MVP Nikola Jovic.

But after trying and failing to keep pace with the gold medal favourites, Serbia bounced back impressively to dispatch winless Puerto Rico in a 107-66 romp as Jovic once again starred, notching 15 rebounds and 14 points.

Olympiacos' Filip Petrusev scored 15 as a superior all-round effort helped Serbia to victory while Christopher Ortiz top-scored with 19 for the defeated American territory.

That sets up the winner-takes-all clash with South Sudan this weekend in Lille, where Serbia will attempt to replicate their more controlled showing on the hardwood.