Though Team USA’s tune-up game against the newest Olympics Team, South Sudan, was close, LeBron James and Co. got a comfortable 103-86 win in their second Paris Olympics game. Though the win was a combined effort of Team USA, James was particularly impressed with Bam Adebayo’s performance, for which he even gave the latter a new name.
Following the victory, the NBA shared a video featuring James praising Adebayo and dubbing him the “new Splash Brother.
“The new Splash Brother! Bam Bam Splash!” James, who himself got a new nickname for his Olympic opener performance, said in the video.
“The new Splash Brother… Bam Bam Splash!” 😆
LBJ 🤝 Bam pic.twitter.com/Rp6hv6JGT2
— NBA (@NBA) July 17, 2024
This is a significant accolade, as the “Splash Brothers” is the iconic nickname for Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Adebayo’s outstanding performance justified the honor. He led all scorers for Team USA with 18 points, shooting an impressive 8-10 from the field and 2-3 from beyond the arc.
Team USA Continues Winning Run in the Paris Olympics
Team South Sudan entered the Olympics as the lowest-rated team, ranked 33rd in the FIBA World Rankings, while Team USA is a favorite for the gold medal this year. The game on Wednesday highlighted the stark contrast between the two teams.
Throughout the game, Team USA dominated Sudan’s stars. LeBron James contributed 12 points, while Kevin Durant added 14 points and 3 assists. Anthony Edwards scored 13 points and grabbed 3 steals, leading Team USA to victory over South Sudan.
Jayson Tatum played his first game in the Paris Olympics on Wednesday after the controversy over his benching against Serbia. The Boston Celtics star recorded four points, five rebounds, and two assists in 17 minutes on the court.
For South Sudan, Nuni Omot had a standout performance with a game-high 24 points, while Bul Kuol chipped in with 16 points.
The United States will conclude the group stage on Saturday against Puerto Rico.
