Steve Kerr predicted Team USA’s downfall in 2021 after Steph Curry and Warriors’ EMBARRASSING loss

Steve Kerr foresaw that the absence of the ability to execute the "little things" among modern NBA players would eventually come back to haunt them.

Steve Kerr predicted Team USA’s downfall in 2021 after Steph Curry and Warriors’ EMBARRASSING loss

Steve Kerr (Credits: Golden State of Mind)

Team USA had big plans for the summer, hoping to take the coveted FIBA World Cup home. However, their aspirations were shattered when they suffered a shocking 113-111 defeat in the semifinals against eventual champions Germany. While many thought the Americans were too formidable for any opponent, their head coach, Steve Kerr, had foreseen their eventual decline as early as 2021.

After the Golden State Warriors lost 126-114 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2021, Kerr talked about how today’s NBA players don’t focus enough on the basics of the game in the post-game interview. He stressed that even the most talented players struggle if they don’t have a strong grasp of the fundamentals.

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“This is the modern NBA; guys don’t box out. It’s just the way it is. Every night on League Pass, I see the same thing. Players let guys come in from the weak side, and they think, ‘I’ll just get the rebound.’ It’s a disease that’s rampant in the NBA,” said Kerr after the game.

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As per the Warriors’ head coach, modern players often neglect the importance of paying attention to the “little things” in the game.

“Players have never had more skill than they have today in my mind. I’m amazed by the skill level. But the little things, getting back in transition — every night on TV, I see teams let a guy run past them in transition for a layup. We do it; every team does it. If you did that 25 years ago, your coach would take you out and he wouldn’t play you again. Now everybody does it, and as a coach, you can’t take everybody out,” said Kerr.

Kerr is well aware of the lack of fundamentals in today’s NBA, and reflecting on this interview helps to explain how a fundamentally sound German team managed to defeat a more talented USA squad.

Also Read: Steve Kerr and co. ended Team USA’s UNBELIEVABLE 29-year streak with horrendous FIBA World Cup display

Steve Kerr’s Team USA faced significant struggles on the rebounding front

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Steve Kerr (Credits: NBC Bay Area)

While Team USA boasted an extensive pool of NBA talent, one thing they lacked was size and physicality. Rebounding, in particular, emerged as a significant problem for the Americans before they even entered the knockout stages of the FIBA World Cup, as they found themselves outmuscled on the boards by teams such as Montenegro and Lithuania in the group stages.

In their matchups, the rebounding statistics painted a clear picture: Montenegro outrebounded them 31-49, and Lithuania had a 27-43 rebounding advantage. In their loss to Germany, the opposing team secured 16 offensive rebounds and capitalized with 25 second-chance points.

Steve Kerr also highlighted the rebounding issue early in the tournament, emphasizing that the only way opposing teams could defeat them was by forcing turnovers and exploiting their failure to box out effectively.

“The concern is turnovers and rebounds,” Kerr said.“If we stay even on the possession game, I feel great about our chances against anybody. The way teams can beat us is if they get extra possessions and force a lot of turnovers and we’re not sharp and we’re not boxing out. And I’ve told our guys that. … It’s not really a secret.”

The rebounding problem for Team USA was compounded by their roster choices. They deployed Jaren Jackson Jr. as the starting center, despite his more natural fit as a power forward. Other big men on the team included Bobby Portis, another power forward, and Walker Kessler, who was the second youngest player on Team USA. As a result, they often found themselves at a significant size disadvantage, particularly when facing European teams that utilized a more traditional frontcourt.

Despite the challenges, Team USA’s World Cup campaign did have some bright spots, including the emergence of Anthony Edwards as a certified superstar and the remarkable progress of Austin Reaves. Nevertheless, they will need to go back to the drawing board and carefully construct a more suitable roster tailored for international competitions.

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