Reports: Kevin Durant and Team USA Players Frustrated With Coaching System at Tokyo Olympics 2020

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been an epicentre of emotion, with athletes aggressively competing for the Gold. However, in contrast to the glory of dominating the Men’s basketball event since 1992, Team USA just ended a 25-0 streak following a loss to France in their opening matchup.

And while the loss was an absolute shocker, the drama didnt end there. Reports are now flying out of Tokyo over the locker-room tension between the players and head coach Gregg Popovich. Following a 83-76 defeat to the French in a game where the list of names on the team U.S. roster remained just that, Durant and? Lillard amongst others, went cold turkey.

The players are beginning to butt heads with Hall of Famer coach Gregg Popovich, as he tries to instill the San Antonio model of success in Tokyo. Reportedly, Pop’s conventional style of basketball, which revolves around increased ball movement isn’t fitting well with the players.

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Is Popovich on thin ice with Team USA?

While Pop’s credentials as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs dynasty is a stellar accomplishment, his international record is sub-par at best. Popovich, having taken over from legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski following the 2016 Olympics, holds a sub-par 11-6 record in international matchups since.

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The reason his system worked seamlessly in San Antonio was the personalities of the aces he possessed. While the Spurs system focuses more on passing, setting screens and lateral movement without the ball, the roster build is ISO centric!

And Sunday’s loss may have just been the tipping point for Kevin Durant, and others who clearly have other ideas! Frustration boiled over, with the players now making a case for a change in the “San Antonio offense” system, following 3 losses in 4 games.

However, Popovich had a different outlook, citing the compressed nature of the training campaign as the major factor behind the focus on “concept based play” rather than designed offensive sets.

Considering that most of the all-star representation on Team USA are offensively ball dominant players, are they being pushed outside their comfort zone toward a rather team-oriented form of basketball? In fact, that was the difference as the U.S. fell to Nigeria, Australia and France all within 2 weeks.

One of the main criticisms that has surfaced is the lack of playing time between the players which has led to the rather iffy system.

The bubble is about to Pop!

League experts now have come to the consensus that perhaps Gregg Popovich does not fit with a team built on individual talent. And it’s no secret that he is quite inflexible in shifting the “system”.

NBA analysts also believe that as the U.S. closes in on their next matchup against Iran, “something’s gotta give, and fast!” Otherwise, instead of a sure shot medal, they could go home empty-handed! While it is Pop’s 1st olympics, there wont be much time to lull over the events leading up to now.

Can he inject some life into Durant and Co. looking to turn the tables around to bring home the gold? And he has done it before, winning 5 championships in San Antonio. But, this time round, he won’t have Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker on his side!

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