‘Redeem Team’: Olympic Hoops Squad Rebounds
by Josh O’Hare
Team USA’s men's basketball team is always expected to win the gold, nothing less. In 2004, America won the bronze with many fans calling the team a joke. Netflix has released a documentary called “The Redeem Team” to tell the story of how the 2008 team redeemed USA’s status and won the gold. A team full of NBA players? The documentary starts off by stressing there is zero reason for team USA to not win the gold and goes over the disappointment basketball fans and players faced after the 2004 loss.
After 2004, Team USA changed their entire team. Mike Krzyzewski from Duke was picked to be coach, which drew heavy criticism on if he would be able to coach NBA players. The team had NBA stars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, and Dwight Howard. USA is the only team that has an entire roster of NBA players and with that kind of talent, it was only stressed more that they shouldn't lose.
To start training, Coach K demanded the team to respect their country, and the opponents. Players in other countries have a pride playing for their country that Team USA apparently couldn’t relate to. Coaches, players, and media members in the documentary suggest it could be because, as NBA players, the USA squad considered the Olympics more of a side activity. With a background in the military, Coach K brought in people who served the USA to speak with the team every day to help them learn what they wer playing for.
Coach K brought in Col. Bob Brown to talk about fighting for your country. Brown explained that selfless service is how you fight for your country by putting others’ needs above your own: “On the basketball court that may be diving for the loose ball or taking a charge. On the battlefield it may be running into a wall of bullets.” Capt. Scotty Smiley, who had lost both eyes in battle, was also brought in. During practice, resting players wore headsets and talked to the captain about what was happening. Dwayne Wade called Smiley a hero to the team.
Coach K also brought in Doug Collins, a player from Team USA’s basketball team in 1972. USA lost against the USSR by one point in the gold medal match. Collins told the team how crushing the loss was, that it felt like failing his country.
The players on the team discuss what it meant listening to all the guests. Their words not only helped the players see what it means to serve your country in the Olympics, but they help the viewers of the documentary understand as well.
Team USA, from left, Michael Redd, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Deron Williams, Chris Bosh, Mike Krzyzewski, Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Jim Boeheim. (Netflix)
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