August 12, 2008 @ 3:36 pm

Eyes on the Prize

Jason Parham

The U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team talks about going for gold—again

Since VIBE’s iconic Team USA cover in August 1996, things just haven’t been the same for the men’s Olympic basketball squad. Sure, that team lived up to the hype by capturing the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, but the 2000 team in Sydney, Australia came within one missed three-pointer of giving up the gold. Four years later, the 2004 team suffered a major setback in Athens, losing their first game in pool play to Puerto Rico and later settling for the bronze. Now, a decade after the second “Dream Team” successfully dominated the Olympics—and the rest of the world—Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski is leading the “Redeem Team” into the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics with the hopes of securing America’s place atop the basketball world again.

Led by a starting lineup that features superstars Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard and a strong bench highlighted by Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Dwyane Wade, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Michael Redd and Tayshaun Prince, they’ve got the pieces to do it. Sunday, they opened up their run for gold by trumping Yao Ming and the host team from China in front of an estimated billion television viewers. But can they go all the way? Back in early June, VIBE caught up with the squad when they passed through New York City. Here’s what they had to say.

JASON KIDD on why leadership matters:
“Having gold medal experience is key, especially with this young team. [I have to help] them understand what to expect as we get closer to reaching the goal of playing in the medal rounds.”

CHRIS BOSH on the importance of the moment:
“It’s like a dream come true. Not only does it count for basketball, but if you think of past Olympians, we could sit here and name names for days! Just to see them holding up that flag on the podium, it’s like a classic moment. I really hope that we get to hear our national anthem when it’s all said and done.”

CARLOS BOOZER on making memories:
“For me, personally, [my most treasured memory for the 2004 Summer Olympics] was the opening ceremony in Athens. It was amazing to see all those athletes on the same field at the same time competing for one glorious opportunity. To see those flags being risen is great.”

DERON WILLIAMS on why a gold medal tops an NBA championship:
“I put them both neck and neck. [But] it’s hard to say the NBA championship is more special because this is representing your country, not just the team. This is about fighting for our country.”

TAYSHAUN PRINCE on redemption:
“Losing at the 2004 Olympics was obviously a shock to everybody. That’s why the word redemption is out there. The one thing that’s different with this team is that our chemistry is better. In the last couple years, we’ve been able to play in different tournaments and gain that chemistry.”

KOBE BRYANT on who gets the ball with the game on the line:
“With our team, as it is with any team, it’s about creating opportunities for whoever is open. That’s what I do on the Lakers and that’s what [LeBron James] does in Cleveland. It will be no different with this team.”

CHRIS PAUL on what it really means to wear the American uniform:
“When you put on this red, white and blue and you have that USA going across your chest, you understand that it’s more than about you. I play for the New Orleans Hornets—it’s an organization that I represent. But when you play for USA, you represent the country. I don’t think there is any greater honor than that.”

Team USA resumes pool play at the 2008 Summer Olympics against Angola on Tuesday.

Article tags: Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James 

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