Who Is the Best Player on Team USA?
Dwyane Wade (photo. Mannion)From the moment that they ripped open that infamous letter from Jerry Colangelo three years ago, inviting them to commit to this mission of bringing gold back to the U.S., these twelve stars have been intimately aware that this team is different from any one they’ve ever played on. And that’s not just because of the worldwide pressure and the white-hot spotlight shining on them at all times. It’s also different on the court.
Going against the international defenses keen on stopping dribble penetration and international offenses hoping for a glimpse from beyond the arc to launch three-pointers, Team USA has prepared for the Games in the best way to win this competition. Their gameplan is no secret: apply hellacious pressure on ballhandlers, lock up on defense, and run to gold. Easy baskets are our best friend.
In the five exhibition games that we’ve seen from Team USA, they’ve executed that gameplan and generally rolled through the comp. While some of those easy buckets have been the signature ‘Melo two-handed throw through the net and LeBron‘s one-armed tomahawks as expected, I don’t know that anyone except Dwyane Wade expected that he’d be the guy leading Team USA’s break, windmilling his way to be the top scorer on the roster (18 ppg).
As surprisingly impressive as Wade has been, Kobe has been surprisingly disappointing. He’s posted 13.4 points per game, the lowest of the Big 4 (Kobe, ‘Bron, ‘Melo, Wade), and seems to be far too willing to take really off-balance shots even when he’s not up against an expiring shot clock. Granted, Mamba is locking up the opponent’s best player, which means that he can’t just release and run the break like Wade is doing. But in the half court set, his game isn’t truly meshing with the rest of the team’s.
Even so, does Kobe’s shaky start to Olympic play mean that he’s not the best player on the team? His MVP season garnered “best player in the world” compliments from some of the game’s greatest (LeBron).
Could the “best player in the world” not be the best player on Team USA? Who do you think the best player is on Team USA?
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August 5th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Marco says:
It’s Kobe, we all will see it in Bejing! It will be awesome!
August 5th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
hahns says:
i still believe the best player on team usa is CARMELO. he hasnt been showing it in the exhibitions…but its because the team is playing SO so selfishly on offense….during the fiba americas, melo was draining shots from everywhere on the court w/ ease…but it looks like everyone is just going 1 on 1 these past few games.
but lebron is def a close second. hes just too big and fast.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Smitty313 says:
What are we talking about. Kobe isn’t trying all that hard to be the man on team usa. Rigth now the best player is D-Wade, Lebron and Kobe on D.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
Kobe hands down listen to it straight from the lips of the second best player in the world Lebron 23.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Smitty313 says:
Also coach K is saving the offense for the when it counts. He just letting them do what they want.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Blue says:
my boy d-wade is playing with a huge chip on his shoulder! but it’s hard to say who’s the best. the top three players on the team (wade, kobe and lebron) have three totally different roles on the team. kobe is the defensive stopper. wade is just there to score. and lebron is setting things up a bit more…facilitating a bit more.
i think the whole point of this team is that there isn’t a best player!
August 5th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
CHEE says:
kobe is the best player in the world
BUT so far Lebron is the most valuable on the team.
wade is good but such a ball hog.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
shake&bake says:
Kobe is the best player in the world, but he might not be the best player for a team with this much talent since he likes to control the ball so much. I think LeBron is the best because he is pretty much unstoppable and he is more than willing to give the ball up if needed.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
shake&bake says:
Dwight Howard is probably the most important though because of the lack of size.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
pimpdaddy says:
lebron was being humble when he LIED to everyone & said that kobe was the greatest player in the world. lebron knows that he (lebron) is the world’s greatest (current) basketball player. no arguments if you ask me…ask the celtics which team gave them the most difficult series in the playoffs…they said that it was definitely the cavs/lebron…lebron has worse teammates than kobe, yet the cavs gave the champion celtics a much more difficult series than the lakeshow…and i know that one series doesn’t definitively make lebron better, i just feel that he is a better all-around player than kobe…and by the end of his career he will be more closely compared to JORDAN (sorry for the blasphemy) than to kobe…feel free to proceed with the hating now….holla back kobe lovers
August 5th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Blue says:
wade is a ballhog? ha…he’s averaging around the same number of shot per game as lebron. and he’s shooting 72% from the field? if you’re shooting 72%, i don’t think people would be too mad that he’s shooting the ball!
August 5th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Logan Light says:
Dwayne Wade is playing the best on this team. Example? Sure. When everyone else is confounded by the tight zone defense thrown at them, ending in senseless turnovers and off balanced shots, D Wade has been IMPRESSIVE. He slices through the zone better than anyone on the team – next to Chris Paul (and LeBron bullies through the lane so he doesn’t count). He’s hitting ice cold jumpers.
This is Team USA – EVERY player is great. EVERY player could beast someone at their position from another country one on one. But as DIME pointed out, it’s not one on one. Kobe doesn’t get the same looks that he does in the NBA. Doesn’t get the respect from the refs. Dwight doesn’t get the space in the paint. This is different.
So I have absolutely NO problem saying that Dwayne Wade is the best player on this team.
I’m gonna have to root for the Heat this year – shucks.
LL
August 5th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
doc says:
Kobe is the most skilled but Im taking bRON first.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Celts Fan says:
It’s Kobe still. He’s LOCKING DOWN the other team’s best player. KG was the best player on the Celtics despite not being their best offensive player. It can happen. Kobe’s also looking to pass more. I think he’s excited to not be playing 1 on 5 anymore.
2. is LeBron (and if he starts playing the 4 and 5 more, he may leapfrog Kobe just on his versatility alone)
3. is Melo. Some guys are calling him the best international player in the world for the way he runs sh*t at the 4.
I think any of these 3 could be the best, but it’s still Kobe to me, even if he’s having (by his really high standards) a down set of prelims. Let’s see what happens when the games count. I think we’ll see the Mamba we’re all used to seeing.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Disgusted. says:
Where is this Kobe likes to control the ball shit coming from? Does LBJ, Wade or Melo have more assists or steals? Haven’t they all taken more shots than he has? Who in God’s sweet name is the Idiot putting out this nonsense? Kobe must not only lead the team in defense but in Offense as well, is he the only player on the team? Outside of dunks what else is Lebron doing well out there?
God’s you guys are a tough audience, he most not only perform bicycle tricks but must make you breakfast at the same time.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
doc says:
@pimpdaddy I feel you with the Lebron statement.If he can get his J as good as Kobe’s is now its a wrap.But everybody hating on Kobe on this Olympic team dont understand the defensive pressure he is putting on those guards.He got them fuckers scared to dribble.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Allan says:
These Kobe haters are just that Kobe haters no matter what the man does. Didn’t everyone notice how Kobe would rather pass and defend for this team? He is letting the younger guys do all of it in the offensive end because he knows he can simply flip the switch any time he wants to. Don’t be so ignorant by just ranting on Kobe, the guy is mature enough to recognize that the team needs his steadfast leadership more than his overall offensive game . . . .I never saw Kobe being selfish, in fact I saw this more on Wade by I won’t criticize him because it is good for his confidence. We will need Wade’s energy coming off the bench in the Olympics . .
August 5th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
doc says:
Off topic.Im a Wade believer on the court and all,but do anyone else see some homotendicies out of him?Not saying he gay just a little on the sweet side.From the lip gloss,to always talking some sexy shit around men,he just funny.I aint even talking about them gay ass fave 5 commercials.It was something on TV with Bron Wade and Melo.They was talking about who the best or whatever and he just blurts out im the sexiest and starts rubbing his face.Bron looked at Melo and said something low but all you could make out was his face like here he go with that faggot shit.I might be tripping but if one other person see it I aint.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Meica says:
Just because Kobe isn’t throwing down 20 a night doesn’t make him disappointing. Like LeBron, his overall stat lines have been very solid and very well rounded.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Blue says:
hey doc…
that’s hilarious! i haven’t seen what you’re talking about, but i believe you man! but he was voted 50 most beautiful people by people magazine!
August 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Sith Lord 24 says:
if Kobe is on the team then Kobe is the best player on the team PERIOD. just because he is not the point leader it means nothing. Kobe is the best player alive PERIOD. its a group of allstars kobe is taking it easy. when its time to turn it on trust me he will
August 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
MBE18 says:
King James
August 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
ejay225 says:
Paul Pierce
August 5th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Big V says:
Any one of these guys is capable to completely going off on the other team at any time. Who’s going to do the best over the course of the Olympics is anyone’s guess. But I don’t think that that player is necessarily the “best player on the team”. For example, Paul Pierce probably had the best Finals out of all the Celtics, but I don’t think people would consider him to be a better player than KG.
I’m going with Kobe on this one, because I think he’s the best basketball player on this team. I don’t think, however, that he needs to have the best statistical performances in order to prove it.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
doc says:
Stats dont even matter on this team so whoever is looking at themto prove whos the better player should just quit that argument.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Doc, ain’t nothing wrong w/ keeping your look up and clowning around w/ your boys, so long as the ball shi’ts on lock (and we all know it is w/ him.)
BUT
yes, I’ve seen that before too. As long as he’s not getting manis and pedis though, it’s cool. The man lives in South Beach (Miami anyway,) that’s the only place (maybe some parts of NYC too) that can rival LA for sheer materialism and caring only how you look. The man just got single too and I’m sure is trying to do better than Star freakin Jones…
August 5th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
doc says:
He better not have all that bread and be fucking with that fat bitch.She probaly wanted to smash but he was being nice and hanging with her so her pub can get better.Never mind im not saving him he was busting her fat ass.But somebody on here said something about him and Gabrielle Union so that makes up for Star.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Michael says:
Does dime have new writers or something. You guys went from being all over Kobe’s nuts to irratinal hate. He’s averaging less than the big 4 becasue he isn’t shooting as much as the other three and he isn’t getting the fast break points the others are getting because he is’nt as athletic as the other three.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
doc says:
He isnt getting the fast break points because he is to busy locking guards up so he cant leak out like Wade and Bron.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Big V says:
Kobe’s not athletic enough to get fast breaks? Are you out of your mind? He’s playing D. That’s why he’s not breaking out.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Justice says:
did u just say kobe isn’t as athletic as bron,wade and melo? wtf i can’t believe i read that..he just chosses not to throw his body around like d-wade but don’t get it twisted he is just as fast and jumps higher than them all(yeah i said it)..kobe just changed his style of play up a bit for longevity…and plus as said above he cant leak out anyway
August 5th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Aaron says:
LeBron- his versatility provides great chemistry with whoever is on the court with him. He instinctively looks to pass first, rarely forces a bad shot and is one of the primary ballhandlers on the team. With all that he brings to the table, he is clearly the most valuable. The rest of the bunch (Kobe, Wade, and Melo), are somewhat duplicative.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Smooth says:
dwyane wade is the best player on the team
August 5th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Luigi says:
i think Melo is the best in international play. bkuz if uve noticed. Melo is a BEAST when it comes to international play.
LBJ is a monster too. he can actually play center in beijing!
D-Wade is showin ppl up n hes performin like he did in the 05-06 playoffs
Mamba is a lockdown defender and he shud just score when he needs to score
but i think melo is the best when it comes to playing against other countries..in the NBA…the 3 are better than Melo.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
GEE...Low down dirty even says:
Kobe still the best. You don’t go from being the best player in the world (to some of his professional peers no less) to not being the best on the squad cause you doing different things and ya shot not falling as usual.
Could be a minor slump or the finger or something. Either way as far as a complete package goes ain’t no on on the squad really gettin with Kobe. Course that is personal opin.
Others getting they shine on and all, but if you switch Wade to guarding the best I promise his numbers fall and if you let Kobe do the leak to get dunks and all he prolly be getting 20 – 25 easy.
d.o.c. I noticed that Wade tendency too. He be a lil’ to femaley to me sometime. I ain’t saying dude gay or anything (who knows). As of right now I am just saying sometime a lot of stuff he do and mannerisms be real suspect at times.
Fave 5 commercials def. didn’t help lol.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
doc says:
Yeah Gee I know somebody seen it.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Michael says:
Kobe isn’t anywhere near as athletic as Lebron and Wade. He passed his athletic peak a couple of season ago. It’s obvious when you watch them play on the same team how superior Lebron and Wade are athletically to Kobe at this point in their careers.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Setup Man says:
Melo, he has the post game and size and enough range to be effective in the international game…now if only he could translate that back home
August 5th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Didnt Lebron answer this one himself??
Thats like putting together AFC pro bowl team and saying Peyton Manning (Lebron) is the better QB because of his stats and blah blah blah.. But everyone knows Tom Brady (Kobe) is sitting at the top..
And the most valuable piece of team USA is Dwight Howard.. We would be TOO small without him..
August 5th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Jeffco says:
kobe is mos def the guy!
August 6th, 2008 at 4:22 am
karan says:
d-wade is the best player on the court man…
but KG needs to be in this team
August 6th, 2008 at 6:12 am
bill clinton says:
Kobe. nuf said.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:48 am
karizmatic says:
The best player in the world could easily not be the best player on Team USA. First, I think LBJ is the best player in the NBA, so that’s already a strike against Kobe, but some player’s games just are not suited to the international game. It’s hard to think that Kobe’s game doesn’t suit the international game but maybe he’s not comfortable with it. Tim Duncan was frustrated with the international game and although they play different positions I think it shows it’s possible an NBA player might not be as good in the international game. Frankly I still think the player that has the most potential on Team USA is Melo, when his shot is falling, he’s almost unstoppable in international play.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
kris says:
dwayne wade is probaly the best player in the nba, since the championship against the mav’s he nearly always been injured. id have to say thought that watching fiba melo is ubstoppable in international play, he has the complete package, lebron is just bigger and stronger than everybody else, he could play the center or power-forward position quite easily.
oh and if your calling wade gay because of his commercials, didnt kobe sodomize a chick couple years back, i think she called it rape or something
August 10th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Harris says:
There’s a poll at nbagauntlet.com about who’s better, Dwyane Wade or Gilbert Arenas. Wade is killing right now. I think they’re pretty even matched and it’s a shame Gilbert was left off the team.
August 15th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
joe says:
This is for Disgusting. Do you know ball at all you fool? Bron is just dunking? He is playing crazy defense and altering shots and is having a much better presence than Kobe, just look at the games, they show the truth!
The truth is that DWade is the best player on the best team in the world. He is playing better offense and defense than Kobe, has more steals and more assists you idiot, look at the stats! Not only that, DWade made Kobe shine with that alley oop. Now shut up and watch the game, the game does not lie, only the ESPN head do that….
August 24th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
brian_petbul says:
2008 men’s olympics basketball is finished and US beat Spain. Hands off to Spain, they are the only team that challenged team USA in the tournament but unfortunately, USA is the better team. Moreover, as what I saw on team USA from the start till the end of the men’s basketball in beijing, Kobe and Lebron are playing well but Dwyane Wade is special. Since first game till the end, I observed that DWade doesn’t need to play more minutes for him to be consistent and contribute enormous plays such as scoring in 3s and 2s, passing, steals, et al. Most importantly the Championship game against Spain who I believe he rise up to the occasion and scored 27 points (first half=21points) and put a dagger on Spain and Pau’s heart when he hit 3point basket in the final minute on 4th quarter. Beyond unreasonable doubt, WADE IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE OLYMPICS. I trully believe Wade is just giving his 90% skills in this olympic tournament since he is just only their 6th man. Wait till the 2008-2009 season then we will see the real Dwyane Wade who doubted by many that he cannot overcome his injuries…
August 25th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Bencamerondavis says:
Everyone knows that Dwyane Wade was the best player on that floor for the entire Olympics as well as the entire season… I mean he of the three Kobe, LeBron and Wade, Wade was the closest thing to Dwight Howard when it came to blocking shots…. When it came to steals, Wade was the next best thing to Chris Paul…. When it came to clutch, Wade may have been the best of the three players…. When it came to scoring he was the best… right behind Chris Paul in assists?? The years when Kobe and LeBron’s team struggled, they didn’t even come close to putting up these kinda numbers accross the board… Points, assists, blocks, and steals, and FG%… Kobe had averaged 35 points in a season, but what were the rest of the team stats? Did they make the playoffs?? LeBron had an impressive season when he averaged 31, but how did he do defensively? Think about this? This would be the first time a player has made the All NBA FIRST TEAM over Kobe Bryant… Wade was All NBA FIRST TEAM… We all should be puzzled as to why he wasn’t on the All NBA FIRST DEFENSIVE TEAM… How does a player finish Third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, and not make the all Defensive First Team… but you fans are so biased, we don’t question things like that… We try to convince ourselves that LeBron is the best at everything… Is he really faster than Wade? is he really a better dunker than Josh Smith? Is he really a good jump shooter?? Is he really a clutch player? Is he as mature as we force ourselves to believe? Did the refs help the Cav’s to their successful record last season?? Did the refs cheat the Wizards both times in the playoffs against the Cavs? It’s funny because alot of these things are obvious… think about it… The NBA labled LeBron’s game winner against the Warriors his first game winner in his career…. does that goes to show that the game winners vs the Wizards were discreditted?
Does anyone remember the games the Heat and Cavs played against eachother this season? First Wade beat Lebron on his birthday… The next game The Heat had in a bag, until a ref claimed he didn’t hear Chalmers’ timeout before heaving the ball from half court in the middle of the game… Although LeBron out scored Wade by one point, no one talked about the overall stats… 41, 12, 7 assists, 7 Steals, and 2 blocks… No one talked about Wade’s near tripple double against the Utah Jazz… No one talked about his 55 point game vs the knicks… Wade is quicker than Both LeBron and Kobe, he plays bigger than both of them, and he was the best player for the 2008-09 season… and We all know this…. We just won’t admit it….