Just a few more sleeps and Team USA will be back in action on the international stage. While international basketball might not be a cup of tea for a regular NBA fan, this season presents an irresistible twist. The buzz surrounding Team USA, now dubbed ‘Dream Team 2.0‘, is reaching heights not seen in recent years, primarily due to the powerhouse duo of LeBron James and Stephen Curry teaming up.

As the USA Basketball Men’s National Team (USABMNT) gears up for its next outing, watching a game over the coming month offers a rare chance to see two of the modern era’s greatest players collaborate. This legendary pairing has inevitably posed a pleasant dilemma for Head Coach Steve Kerr. With a roster stacked with All-Stars and Champions, the challenge lies in crafting the perfect starting lineup. From recent practices, it appears they’ve struck the right formula.

Preparations in Abu Dhabi are picking up pace with the Australia game coming on July 15. While the media has limited access to the practice, the USAB’s social media team has taken it on to themselves to share behind-the-scenes actions in the lab. In a recently shared video on X, the team is seen practicing 5v5 situations with LeBron James in the thick of things. The footage shows LeBron dishing out an assist for Curry to score, even surprising his teammates. The duo’s telepathic connection was the reason for it and after their alley-oop combo in the Canada game, the anticipation is higher than ever. Judging by the 8-second clip, the starting lineup could be LeBron James, Steph Curry, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Joel Embiid. Here’s the video for you to cross-examine:

Previous content shared by the NBA also suggested the same line-up, with two changes in Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker‘s exit for JT and Ant-Man. With Kevin Durant out with calf soreness, there’s no reason why the given line-up should be the one everyone sees on Monday. But how will Steve Kerr run things tactically with a squad abundant of talent?

Examining LeBron James’ role in the USABMNT system

Even without a word being spoken, one can easily assume that LeBron will not be on the bench from the start. The 39-year-old will be the centerpiece of Steve Kerr’s battleplan for Paris and reports suggested exactly that. “I’ve talked to both of them about this idea of being together after going against one another with such high stakes over the years,” Kerr revealed last month before the start of the training camp. The word around the USAB camp is that LeBron will play the role of a Point Forward, tasked with running the offense. Straying away from the traditional point guard approach enables Bron to pick his spots with capable shooters around him. The execution of the same plan was seen in the provided video above.

“The idea is you find combinations that click and you find two-way lineups that can be effective on both ends, so our big job in Las Vegas is to find five-man combinations that fit,” Kerr further alluded. With that part seemingly done, the focus will be on LeBron taking charge of carrying the ball, which unleashes the shooting potential of the likes of Curry, Edwards, and Tatum. The Aussie challenge on Monday will put that theory to the test again and if this works, expect a fine-tuned USAB bulldozing the competition in Paris.

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Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what brand maker, Leonard Armato, had to say about the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe, check out this video