Team USA’s head coach, Steve Kerr, made another surprising decision in the team’s Olympic victory over South Sudan by benching Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers star center. Embiid, who was a starter in the game, did not see any playing time throughout the entire match, unlike his teammates who made significant contributions to the victory.
During the game, Embiid remained on the bench, looking dejected as he watched his team secure the win without his participation. Kerr opted to go with Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo as the primary big men, both of whom had strong performances on the court. Adebayo led the team in points with 18, while Davis also made valuable contributions on both ends of the floor.
Kerr later explained that the decision to bench Embiid was based on the matchup against South Sudan, as he believed that Davis and Adebayo were better suited to face their opponents. Despite Embiid’s impressive performance in a previous exhibition game against South Sudan, Kerr felt that a different approach was needed for this particular matchup.
The decision to bench Embiid raised eyebrows, especially after Kerr faced criticism for not playing Jayson Tatum in the team’s opener against Serbia. Tatum, who was also initially benched in the first game, managed to secure a spot in the starting lineup against South Sudan but had a relatively quiet game.
As the competition heats up in the Olympic tournament, Kerr faces the challenge of managing a talented roster and making tough decisions about playing time. With more games ahead, Kerr will need to navigate the dynamics of the team to ensure they remain competitive and cohesive on the court.
Despite the social media frenzy surrounding Embiid’s benching, Kerr remains focused on the team’s ultimate goal of winning Olympic gold. As the tournament progresses, Kerr’s coaching decisions will continue to be scrutinized, but his primary objective is to lead Team USA to success in Paris.
In the world of elite sports, every decision matters, and Kerr’s choice to bench Embiid is just one example of the strategic thinking required at the highest level of competition. As Team USA moves forward in the Olympic tournament, the spotlight will remain on Kerr and his coaching decisions as they aim for victory on the international stage.