The United States arrives without the Dream Team, but with a historic All-African-American team

One of the dreams of the black community in the United States, to one day see a national basketball team made up entirely of African American players, came true this year as he traveled to Tokyo 2020, where there will be no “dream” team” of NBA stars, But it will be historic.

After all the controversy that arose with the selection of striker Kevin Love from the Cleveland Cavaliers, which black commentators considered a new concession to the so-called quota, but his voluntary withdrawal from the white team threatened the road. way to history.

Veteran San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich, who made his debut as the team’s technical chief, along with NBA officials, has been replaced by powerhouse forward Gavel McGee of the Denver Nuggets.

While goalkeeper Bradley Bell of the Washington Wizards was fired after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus, his vacancy was filled by young striker Keldon Johnson of Tottenham Hotspur, both players of African descent.

Although Popovich and USA Basketball CEO Jerry Colangelo defended Loew’s selection on the grounds that he was a versatile player and could be of great help if he reached his best level of form, in the end it just wasn’t possible. And now the team is. The incentive to actually be historical without starting the competition.

However, the great personality of the team, striker Kevin Durant, of the Brooklyn Nets, declared that his only interest and focus is to contribute the most to the team with all his teammates selected.

But they now realize that their responsibility will be even greater now given that the Olympic setback after they suffered at the last World Championships in China 2019, sportingly, will leave them at a disadvantage.

In addition, the absence of the stars of the NBA, who often identified in 2020 with social struggle, but did not have the same willingness to go to Tokyo 2020 with the national team, did not go unnoticed by the American public, which lost interest in it .

In fact, the first reaction to the NBA’s loss of popularity was reflected in last night’s Milwaukee Bucks win over the Phoenix Suns 4-2, best of seven, and that was one of the lowest viewers since 1974 when it began controlling television audiences.

There is also this fear regarding the Olympic team that is beginning to be seen as a politicized thing that superstars led by LeBron James have turned their backs, who have decided not to play but to make time for their business.

His fellow Los Angeles Lakers quarterback Anthony Davis decided not to play to better recover from the injury he sustained at the end of the playoffs, the same thing that happened with goalkeeper James Harden from the net.

Goalkeeper Stephen Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, has argued against his invitation to be with the Olympic team that has already closed its schedule for this summer.

But of all the victims from the superstars within the team, it will be Davis, the main player in the paint, and therefore the choice of love, who can help.

Without love, the choice would have been McGrain, he would be the only one whose height exceeds 2.14 meters, and with strong striker Draymond Green, who has Rio de Janeiro 2016 experience, he will give solidity to the team’s defense.

All the other players are at the back, which would be a problem when it comes to European teams facing tall men like they did in the friendly against Spain.

The first test for a historic US team without Superstars will be Sunday’s duel against France, the hangman at the last World Championships, with the Stars and Stripes team finishing seventh.

The presence of quarterback Rudi Gobert, Defensive Player of the Year with France, will put the first US national team made up of all-black players to the test.