Stephen Curry showcased his usual flair as the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team took on Serbia in a preparatory match ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024. Curry was deeply affected by the recent passing of Dejan Milojevic, a former Serbian professional player and assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, who tragically died at the age of 46 following a heart attack. This emotional backdrop fueled Curry's performance in the USA Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi.
Curry dominated the court, scoring the first nine points for the US and later adding another nine consecutive points in the second quarter, highlighted by a four-point play. He concluded the game with 24 points, 18 of which came in the first half, contributing to the US team's 105-79 victory over Serbia. The win left the Etihad Arena's full house of 12,517 spectators in awe of the American team's prowess.
The US team, now 3-0 in the USA Basketball Showcase, will continue their pre-Olympic preparations with matches against South Sudan and Germany in London’s O2 arena. Key players like Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis also made significant contributions, with Davis notably blocking six shots.
US coach Steve Kerr praised the team's defensive efforts and their overall improvement. He highlighted the effective partnership between Adebayo and Davis, who have proven to be formidable on both ends of the court. The team's lineup, featuring Curry, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, James, and Embiid, has remained consistent, with minor adjustments to accommodate injury replacements like Derrick White.
Despite missing the showcase games due to a strained calf, Kevin Durant, the leading scorer in US Olympic history, participated in pregame activities, hinting at a potential return.
