Steve Kerr sees everything Greg Popovich has experienced as a coach for the U.S. men’s national team and how difficult it is for Americans to compete in the Tokyo Olympics by winning another gold medal last summer. I saw exactly.And the last time he got off the floor in Tokyo, he was drained.
“It wasn’t easy,” Kerr said.
It wasn’t, and it was further evidence that the era of the US cakewalk to gold was over. He decided to take on the job anyway.
The car was officially announced in San Francisco on Monday as the next coach of the US Men’s Team at the 2023 World Basketball Championship and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Car assistant coaches are Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams, and Gonzaga coach Mark Few.
Williams was formerly an assistant to former US coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Spoelstra and a few were involved in coaching the US selection team, which was put together for training for the Olympic team last summer.
“The coaches of the US men’s national team have a lot of responsibility. They need teams, goals, and group performance with a team of coaches who are committed to each other. I couldn’t ask for that. A better group. “High-character people who help me run the national team,” Kerr said. “Our goal is, of course, to win our country and be proud. We will work hard for that.”
The Car will be the 16th different coach to lead American men to the Olympics. Of the previous 15, 13 were made of gold. Grant Hill’s first major decision to serve as executive director of the men’s national team was when Jerry Colangelo helped Americans win the last four Olympic gold medals with their abilities. Is to do. The
car is part of a team that has three NBA titles as a Warriors coach, five other players, a gold medal at the Tokyo tournament, and a senior USA basketball gold medal as a player at the 1986 World Cup. was.
“I think his basketball insight, ability to connect with people, his understanding and respect for international matches, along with a few other factors, certainly played a role in this process,” Hill said in the Associated Press. Talked about the selection process in an interview with. “When I talked to people and thought about it, it was perfect. I believe his wealth of experience, including at the international level, made him very differentiating.”
Popovich and Carr There are many similarities and many connections between them. They are close friends and Carr played for Popovich in San Antonio-and they both take on the Olympic job after missing an Olympic application as a player. Popovich sought to form the US Olympic team in 1972. Kerr was the finalist of the 1988 Olympic team.
“I just did what he said to me,” Popovich said earlier this month, smiling, talking about what it would be like to put a car on an Olympic baton.
Americans are currently qualifying for the 2023 World Cup. The World Cup ends in the Philippines, the hometown of Spoelstra’s mother. A strong finish at the World Cup is the easiest way to compete in the Paris Olympics. Simply reigning as a gold medalist and being number one in the world rankings will not allow Americans to compete in the tournament by default.
Hill said he and Kerr had already talked about how to work in the next two and a half years in terms of rostering, focusing on the program and maintaining the best results in the United States in the past. Stated.
“I don’t want to deviate completely from what worked,” Hill said. “But I think you have the option of hitting the reset button for a few things and looking for ways to improve the experience and ultimately the goals of everyone involved. Look at these employees, And they were all part of USA Basketball. Monty Williams was on the road with Coach K’s last quad. Erik Spoelstra and Mark Few were part of this former selection team. So it can be seen as a sequel. “
