Before they face each other in the Group Stage of the 2024 Olympic Games, Serbia and USA are going to also meet in Abu Dhabi for a preparation game Wednesday (17/7).
“There’s a lot of familiarity,” USA Basketball superstar Steph Curry said. “I don’t know necessarily what it’s going to feel like to play them here. They are in our pool so I know we have a couple of games against them. They’re going to be tough to beat. It’s just a matter of – again – focusing on what we do and trying to do it as best we can. They’re a tough team like some other nations.”
Curry and his teammates will tip off the 2024 USA Basketball Showcase against Australia Monday (15/7). The Boomers will play vs. Serbia the next day and then the latter will test their mettle against the USA side.
It will be quite a prep clash for both teams. While USA Basketball will enter the the Olympics as the major frontrunner to win the gold Serbia is considered a medal favorite and one of the teams that could potentially beat LeBron James, Curry and co. in a knockout game.
Curry, who will debut in an Olympic tournament after winning the gold medal with USA in the 2014 and 2019 World Championships, has a certain prior experience against various editions of the Serbian national team.
“I played with the U19 team in 2007,” Curry said. “We beat them in pool play and they beat us in the gold medal game. Then we beat them in 2014 in Spain during the World Championship there. A lot of history. Obviously, Jokic and what he’s been able to do in his NBA career and playing against him. I know [Bogdan] Bogdanovic.”
