Thoughts on LeBron starting over Tatum in the Olympics? Is it unfair veteran privilege?

[NO-KG-AI]

The rest of the world has caught up in a way, but the biggest concern for the US is that our crop of under 35 stars are very uninspiring still IMO. Go back 20 years and imagine this team against Duncan, KG, Kobe, T-Mac, Kidd…. Even Shaq was only 31-32.

Go back 10 yearsish before that in 1992-1996 and the US top talent level is still a lot more polished and strong up top.

I think our 25-34 stars are where we are lacking. None of those guys really took a leap where they could be challenging for top 25 all time spots. Hopefully our under 25’s really explode in the next few years. We need some of them to really come into their own for next phase.

[Woodsanity]

Latum's Olympic exhibition stats: 6.4 pts on 46/0/80 shooting, 3.4 rebs, 1.6 asts, 1 stl in 17.8 mins. LeBron's stats: 14.2 pts on 60/46/64 shooting, 4 rebs, 3.6 asts in 20.4 mins

Glad that bum got DNPEd.

[jalengreen]

The rest of the world has caught up in a way, but the biggest concern for the US is that our crop of under 35 stars are very uninspiring still IMO. Go back 20 years and imagine this team against Duncan, KG, Kobe, T-Mac, Kidd…. Even Shaq was only 31-32.

Go back 10 yearsish before that in 1992-1996 and the US top talent level is still a lot more polished and strong up top.

I think our 25-34 stars are where we are lacking. None of those guys really took a leap where they could be challenging for top 25 all time spots. Hopefully our under 25’s really explode in the next few years. We need some of them to really come into their own for next phase.

Ant will be 26 next go around, how he develops will be key.

Then some other guys in the conversation could be Scottie (26), Zion (28), Ja (28), Chet (26), Paolo (25), Maxey (27).

Booker (31), Tatum (30), Bam (31), Haliburton (28) all current Team USA players we could see again as well.

Ages four years from now in parentheses for all of these players.

Obviously projecting from this point is tough because who knows if some of these young guys will fall off, who knows who will actually want to play for Team USA, etc. Chet stands out to me as being the big of the future for Team USA if he wants that role, along with Ant who should be near his peak 4 yrs from now.

[MrBigShot]

Tatum is a superstar but even during the nba season lebron was a better individual player. Under the international rule set, it's really not even close. Even well beyond his athletic peak, LeBron is still an elite athlete, and the smaller court with more physical play makes him even more dominant than he is in the nba.

[Patches Perry]

The rest of the world has caught up in a way, but the biggest concern for the US is that our crop of under 35 stars are very uninspiring still IMO. Go back 20 years and imagine this team against Duncan, KG, Kobe, T-Mac, Kidd…. Even Shaq was only 31-32.

Go back 10 yearsish before that in 1992-1996 and the US top talent level is still a lot more polished and strong up top.

I think our 25-34 stars are where we are lacking. None of those guys really took a leap where they could be challenging for top 25 all time spots. Hopefully our under 25’s really explode in the next few years. We need some of them to really come into their own for next phase.

Ant will be 26 next go around, how he develops will be key.

Then some other guys in the conversation could be Scottie (26), Zion (28), Ja (28), Chet (26), Paolo (25), Maxey (27).

Booker (31), Tatum (30), Bam (31), Haliburton (28) all current Team USA players we could see again as well.

Ages four years from now in parentheses for all of these players.

Obviously projecting from this point is tough because who knows if some of these young guys will fall off, who knows who will actually want to play for Team USA, etc. Chet stands out to me as being the big of the future for Team USA if he wants that role, along with Ant who should be near his peak 4 yrs from now.

Brunson and Jdub are a couple more.

There's plenty of talent for a deep and talented roster, but I think the point stands about top tier talent. Usually when you project what the team will look like in 4 years, you can count on an all time great like LeBron, Durant, Curry, Kobe, Wade etc to be there. Top 25 or better all time players. When you look at 2028, I don't see anyone remotely close to that territory. This is just the natural result of the top 3 or 4 players in the NBA the last few years being international.

2028 might need to be a year they build the team a little more carefully and try to win with depth and versatility rather than relying so heavily on star power.

[eyriq]

Personally I think it's ridiculous. Tatum is probably the best forward on that team and isn't even in the rotation?

[dc]

Personally I think it's ridiculous. Tatum is probably the best forward on that team and isn't even in the rotation?

He has more limited international experience while Lebron is still Lebron and KD is one of the great international players of all time (and showed it again today).

[Edrees]

The rest of the world has caught up in a way, but the biggest concern for the US is that our crop of under 35 stars are very uninspiring still IMO. Go back 20 years and imagine this team against Duncan, KG, Kobe, T-Mac, Kidd…. Even Shaq was only 31-32.

Go back 10 yearsish before that in 1992-1996 and the US top talent level is still a lot more polished and strong up top.

I think our 25-34 stars are where we are lacking. None of those guys really took a leap where they could be challenging for top 25 all time spots. Hopefully our under 25’s really explode in the next few years. We need some of them to really come into their own for next phase.

Ant will be 26 next go around, how he develops will be key.

Then some other guys in the conversation could be Scottie (26), Zion (28), Ja (28), Chet (26), Paolo (25), Maxey (27).

Booker (31), Tatum (30), Bam (31), Haliburton (28) all current Team USA players we could see again as well.

Ages four years from now in parentheses for all of these players.

Obviously projecting from this point is tough because who knows if some of these young guys will fall off, who knows who will actually want to play for Team USA, etc. Chet stands out to me as being the big of the future for Team USA if he wants that role, along with Ant who should be near his peak 4 yrs from now.

Brunson and Jdub are a couple more.

There's plenty of talent for a deep and talented roster, but I think the point stands about top tier talent. Usually when you project what the team will look like in 4 years, you can count on an all time great like LeBron, Durant, Curry, Kobe, Wade etc to be there. Top 25 or better all time players. When you look at 2028, I don't see anyone remotely close to that territory. This is just the natural result of the top 3 or 4 players in the NBA the last few years being international.

2028 might need to be a year they build the team a little more carefully and try to win with depth and versatility rather than relying so heavily on star power.

Lebron and KD and Curry may be GOATS but it's not like they are being heavily relied on this year's team USA. It's pretty balanced IMO. I don't see a big dropoff if 3 other players take those minutes, especially becuase those other guys will be in their primes while KD Leborn and Steph are not even close to their primes right now.

Also nobody thought Steph was gonna be that type of top 12 player of all time when he was young. You could have a number of players take his trajectory in the next 4 years and be on his level of player.

[Swindle]

I don’t know if Tatum is taking it personal, but 2008 redeem team had a bench player lead the team in ppg. Hopefully champ can still get enough minutes to prove if he’s really better.

[jalengreen]

The rest of the world has caught up in a way, but the biggest concern for the US is that our crop of under 35 stars are very uninspiring still IMO. Go back 20 years and imagine this team against Duncan, KG, Kobe, T-Mac, Kidd…. Even Shaq was only 31-32.

Go back 10 yearsish before that in 1992-1996 and the US top talent level is still a lot more polished and strong up top.

I think our 25-34 stars are where we are lacking. None of those guys really took a leap where they could be challenging for top 25 all time spots. Hopefully our under 25’s really explode in the next few years. We need some of them to really come into their own for next phase.

Ant will be 26 next go around, how he develops will be key.

Then some other guys in the conversation could be Scottie (26), Zion (28), Ja (28), Chet (26), Paolo (25), Maxey (27).

Booker (31), Tatum (30), Bam (31), Haliburton (28) all current Team USA players we could see again as well.

Ages four years from now in parentheses for all of these players.

Obviously projecting from this point is tough because who knows if some of these young guys will fall off, who knows who will actually want to play for Team USA, etc. Chet stands out to me as being the big of the future for Team USA if he wants that role, along with Ant who should be near his peak 4 yrs from now.

Brunson and Jdub are a couple more.

There's plenty of talent for a deep and talented roster, but I think the point stands about top tier talent. Usually when you project what the team will look like in 4 years, you can count on an all time great like LeBron, Durant, Curry, Kobe, Wade etc to be there. Top 25 or better all time players. When you look at 2028, I don't see anyone remotely close to that territory. This is just the natural result of the top 3 or 4 players in the NBA the last few years being international.

2028 might need to be a year they build the team a little more carefully and try to win with depth and versatility rather than relying so heavily on star power.

Yeah I agree, I think they’ll have to put more consideration into team construction when they don’t have a KD to rely on. The options will certainly be there.

JDub is a good shout


I will say that it’s totally possible we come to view Ant as an all-time great. Or someone else we haven’t mentioned. Lot of ball to be played in these guys’ careers.

[Pharmcat]

The rest of the world has caught up in a way, but the biggest concern for the US is that our crop of under 35 stars are very uninspiring still IMO. Go back 20 years and imagine this team against Duncan, KG, Kobe, T-Mac, Kidd…. Even Shaq was only 31-32.

Go back 10 yearsish before that in 1992-1996 and the US top talent level is still a lot more polished and strong up top.

I think our 25-34 stars are where we are lacking. None of those guys really took a leap where they could be challenging for top 25 all time spots. Hopefully our under 25’s really explode in the next few years. We need some of them to really come into their own for next phase.

because they are just that, stars, they are not superstars like Durant Curry Lebron. The media just props them up to be more than they are. Look at Tatum, dude cant even get into the rotation, hes not a superstar

[bigboi]

Latum's Olympic exhibition stats: 6.4 pts on 46/0/80 shooting, 3.4 rebs, 1.6 asts, 1 stl in 17.8 mins. LeBron's stats: 14.2 pts on 60/46/64 shooting, 4 rebs, 3.6 asts in 20.4 mins

Glad that bum got DNPEd.

“Bum”, yawn. You’ve been with the clown takes.

[Benedict_Boozer]

Reality is if you’re Kerr, Lebron does everything Tatum does but better - especially passing and his size gives you a lot of options defensively. If Tatum was knocking down jumpers might be a diff story but his shot has been erratic at best.

I like Tatum a lot also so I hope he does get some run, but he isn’t better than Lebron OR KD if we are being honest and he is not really a good enough playmaker to put ahead of Derrick White with the bench.

[JustBuzzin]

Tatum is gonna be the waterboy for this squad.

His iso role doesn't fit when guys like LeBron/KD are much more efficient in that role. Tatum needs shots to be effective. That's not going to happen on this team.

[Statlanta]

Tatum is a SF/PF.

LeBron James and Kevin Durant are SF/PFs.

He might as have a lighter for warming their benches.

[Fencer reregistered]

Tatum is a SF/PF.

LeBron James and Kevin Durant are SF/PFs.

He might as have a lighter for warming their benches.

It's making sense that Kawhi was replaced by somebody who plays a different position.

[Roscoe Sheed]

I get the idea of fit in terms of playing a role on Team USA, but the notion that LeBron and Durant are better NBA players than Tatum is currently is incorrect- the guy deserves some props for leading his team to a championship- of course Brown played a huge role too and he had a solid team around him, but Tatum is one of the best SF/PF in the NBA currently

[lpbman]

I was curious, because I don't see enough of them to have an informed opinion, so I looked at the advanced stats. Last year, they were pretty even. I'd have that advantage Lebron considering the difference in the teams surrounding them. I can't imagine a world where if they swapped teams, the Lakers get better, or the Celtics get worse, and VORP would support that.

So it seems Lebron is playing better right now- he should starting. Also, most of these cats have known Lebron for YEARS. All Star games, games against, off season screwing around and camps and such. It makes perfect sense Lebron is the man for the Olympics.

[Jta444]

Crazy how Lebron turned it around so quick. He just lost 1-4 to the Nuggets in the 1st round months ago and now is the best player in the world once again. Looks like Curry and even Durant has declined faster than him too. That’s crazy. He’s even better than guys who should be at their peaks right now like Embiid AD and Tatum. I’m getting more and more convinced he is the undisputed GOAT

[SeattleJazzFan]

Crazy how Lebron turned it around so quick. He just lost 1-4 to the Nuggets in the 1st round months ago and now is the best player in the world once again. Looks like Curry and even Durant has declined faster than him too. That’s crazy. He’s even better than guys who should be at their peaks right now like Embiid AD and Tatum. I’m getting more and more convinced he is the undisputed GOAT

turned what around? he didn't lose 1-4 to the nuggets, the lakers lost 1-4 to the Nuggets.

In that series, LeBron averaged 28, 7, 9 and 2.5 steals, on 64% TS. He was elite in that series. He hasn't turned anything around. He simply got better teammates.