LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, LeBron James is still dominant even as he approaches 40 years old. In Team USA’s most recent game against South Sudan, James led the team with 23 points and also hit the game-winning shot with just eight seconds to play.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
The NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers, Curry is the greatest shooter to ever walk the face of the planet. He is a two-time NBA MVP, four-time NBA champ, and was the face of the NBA’s most recent dynasty.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
A young star, Edwards grew immensely in popularity this past NBA season as his Timberwolves nearly climbed to the top of the Western Conference standings. Despite his young age, Edwards, 22, has established himself as a key cog in this U.S. Team. In their game against South Sudan, Edwards played 21 minutes, which was tied with Anthony Davis and Devin Booker for the third-most on the team.
Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Wagner played an immense role in the Orlando Magic’s rise into the Eastern Conference playoffs last year. He was undoubtedly Germany’s best scorer in the team’s most recent game against Japan, notching 27 points. The next closest total belonged to Andreas Obst and Dennis Schroder with 12 each.
Dennis Schroder, Brooklyn Nets
Schroder has been a very solid player wherever he’s gone. In the NBA, he’ll constantly give teams 10-15 points on solid shooting. Whether he’s coming off the bench, thrust into a starting role, or playing with the weight of a country behind him, Schroder remains constant.
Johannes Voigtmann, Olimpia Milano
Voigtmann isn’t the best scorer, but he’s very good at grabbing boards. Voigtmann grabbed eight rebounds and notched three assists (third on team) during Germany’s game against Japan. That’s not to say that Voigtmann can’t pop off for 10 or 15 points every now and again. In fact, during last season with Olimpia Milano, Voigtmann recorded double-digit points on ten separate occasions, including a season-high of 21 against Brescia on May 25.
Scores 24 notes, “Team USA showed excellent offensive strategy, scoring 1003 points in the past 10 appearances. It is noteworthy that, on average, they scored 100.3 points per game during this stretch. This indicates a high level of preparation and the ability to dominate on the field.”
Rubio believes the United States will bounce back in a big way after nearly falling to South Sudan. This would be the U.S.’s second-biggest win of the showcase and would give the team considerable momentum heading into Paris.