Is Team USA Basketball Ready for the Paris Olympics?

Team USA men’s basketball had another scare against an underdog opponent in the warmup games, raising questions about whether the team is ready for Paris.

LeBron James of the United States looks on during the 2024 USA Basketball Showcase match between USA and Germany at The O2 Arena in London on July 22, 2024. Paul Harding/Getty Images

Team USA had another scare against an underdog opponent in an Olympic warm-up game, and the team needed NBA star LeBron James to bail them out.

Two days after edging Sudan 101-100 on a layup by James with eight seconds left, the United States edged Germany 92–88 at London’s O2 Arena on Monday. James, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, scored the final 11 points against the German, but the U.S., suddenly looks vulnerable to compete for a gold medal in the Paris Olympics next week.