Anthony Edwards praises LeBron James as the reason for Team USA’s win over Olympic debutants South Sudan

LeBron James' heroics saved the day, but the team's lackluster performance highlights areas for improvement.

Anthony Edwards praises LeBron James as the reason for Team USA’s win over Olympic debutants South Sudan

LeBron James and Anthony Edwards

Team USA survived a close scare against South Sudan on Saturday, thanks to a game-winning layup from LeBron James in the final seconds. James was the team’s standout player, as he finished with 25 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in just 23 minutes. He shot an impressive 10-of-14 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, carrying the team to victory.

Anthony Edwards, who had a relatively off day with 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting, credited James as the key to their narrow win. Edwards acknowledged that LeBron James is the team’s leader and is willing to take a backseat to the legendary player. A change in direction after he called himself the “number one option.”

LeBron James. Yeah, pretty much just LeBron.
Anthony Edwards to Cesare Milant

James’ performance has been phenomenal during the exhibition schedule, and he’s expected to be a crucial piece in Team USA’s pursuit of gold at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Without him, the team would have likely suffered a shocking defeat against South Sudan.

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James’ heroics saved the day, but the team’s lackluster performance highlights areas for improvement. With their final exhibition game against Germany on Monday, Team USA needs to find consistency and cohesion to dominate in the Olympics.

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LeBron James saves Team USA from major warm-up upset against South Sudan

Team USA narrowly escaped with a 101-100 win over South Sudan in an exhibition game on Saturday, thanks to a game-winning layup from LeBron James with eight seconds left. Meanwhile, South Sudan’s Marial Shayok scored a game-high 25 points. Despite being outshot from beyond the arc, Team USA managed to hold on for the win.

The game was a close contest throughout, with South Sudan leading by 14 points at halftime and Team USA struggling to find their rhythm. The United States’ poor shooting and turnovers allowed South Sudan to stay in the game, but James’ clutch play and Jrue Holidays’ defensive efforts secured the win.

The game highlighted some areas for improvement for Team USA, including their transition defense and shot-making. However, the team also showed promising signs, including Joel Embiid’s dominant performance in the paint and new arrival Derrick White’s solid play off the bench. With their final exhibition game against Germany on Monday, Team USA will look to fine-tune their skills before the Olympics.

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