Joel Embiid recently commented on Team USA’s older stars, suggesting that their advanced ages may lead to an overestimation of their abilities as a team. Kevin Durant, 35, and one of the players Embiid referred to, agreed with him to an extent. Durant, who is Team USA’s all-time leading scorer but has been sidelined this summer due to a calf injury, acknowledged that age and wear and tear on the body play a role in how effective players can be.
Embiid, 30, has dealt with several injuries throughout his career and opted to play for Team USA over his home country of France at the Olympics. Durant confirmed that he was aware of Embiid’s comments, while his teammate Steph Curry, 36, jokingly blamed the abundance of podcasts for spreading the discussion.
Embiid’s observations, shared in an episode of “The Interview” before the start of Team USA’s training camp and published on July 20, caused a stir within basketball circles. Despite being favorites for a fifth consecutive gold medal, many felt that the American team had been given too much credit based on the reputations of its veteran players.
Embiid pointed out that many of the players on the U.S. team are older and may not be the same dominators they once were. He used LeBron James, 39, as an example, highlighting that age can impact performance over time. The team has seven players aged 30 or older, with players like Kawhi Leonard, 33, being sent home due to injury concerns.
The irony came when Embiid singled out James, who has been one of Team USA’s top players during the exhibition games leading up to the Olympics. Despite the controversy, neither James nor Embiid publicly addressed the comments. Durant confirmed that the topic was not a focus of discussion within the team.
Durant emphasized the importance of adjusting and finding ways to remain effective as players age. Curry mentioned the contribution of younger team members in complementing the veterans on the court. The team includes players like Devin Booker, 27, Anthony Edwards, 22, and Bam Adebayo, 27, who bring youthful energy to the lineup.
USA coach Steve Kerr downplayed the significance of Embiid’s comments, focusing instead on the team’s balance of age and experience. He emphasized the collective competitive force that the team aims to bring to the games. Team USA’s first match at the Olympics is against Serbia, with James set to be the flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony in Paris.
Required reading: Top photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images