(Los Angeles) U.S. men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr, who is also the successful coach of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, said Thursday that stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry are “looking forward to playing together” for the first time at the Paris Olympics.

“I think LeBron (James) and Steph (Curry) are looking forward to playing together. I talked with them, they like this idea of ​​teaming up after competing at the top for several years,” said Kerr, Curry’s historic coach at Golden State, during a press briefing.

“They complement each other, Steph with his off-ball game (to stand out) and LeBron to accelerate in transition, it’s interesting […] I think they are eager to explore their possibilities, to see what they can bring oneself. »

The United States is aiming for a 5th consecutive Olympic title in men’s basketball, and has assembled a new “dream team” around James and Curry, including Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid.

The players will meet on July 5 in Las Vegas for a first training camp and a first friendly match against Canada on July 10 before flying to the United Arab Emirates, then London and finally the north of France, with the first round of basketball at the Olympic Games being played in Lille.

“I realized that what players like is teaming up with their usual opponents (in the NBA), adds the coach. They are no longer the star of their franchise, on whom all the weight of the result and all the stress rests, they must work together. Our role with the staff is to find a style and systems that are not too complex, due to lack of time, to lead them to success. »

“Our squad is a constellation of stars. What I like is that they want even more, he adds. They want Olympic gold, they signed up for it, and know the challenge. International competition is always stronger, we will have to present ourselves at our best level. »

Asked about the comparison with the original “dream team” of the 1992 Games (Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird…), Kerr believes that the numbers are comparable, but not the competition they face.

“That team (in 1992) was never in danger. Our current squad is made up of future members of the Hall of Fame (NBA), but we have to face completely different adversity with Serbia, France, Germany or Spain for example. »