In September, Germany’s basketball players sensationally defeated the USA. The national coach looks forward to a possible rematch in Paris calmly and with a pinch of humor
Germany’s national basketball coach Gordon Herbert takes rumors about a possible USA super team at the Olympics in stride. “Is that fake news? I don’t know that at all. They already had a very good team and talented players at the World Cup,” Herbert told the German Press Agency on Monday evening in Munich with a grin.
NBA star players such as Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry have already signaled their willingness to play in Paris and Lille in 2024. Superstar LeBron James could also be there at the age of 39.
“If James, Durant and Curry come, that would be great,” said the 64-year-old Herbert at the presentation of the illustrated book on the Germans’ completely surprising World Cup title this summer. Part of the triumph was the 113:111 victory over the highly-favored US team in the semi-finals.
Herbert plans for the Olympics with the World Championship team
In the wake of the World Cup defeat, the big names were being traded in the USA for the Olympic tournament in France. Although promising players such as Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards were present at the World Cup, the really big stars were not.
Herbert himself is planning a similar line-up for the Olympic tournament (July 27 to August 11) as for the World Cup. “It will be more or less the same team. Of course, it depends on who is healthy. But we have a three-year plan. We have a few players who were cut late before the World Cup,” said the Canadian.
