Paris Olympics 2024: Inside team USA basketball’s golden machine
From personal security, to police escorts, parties and nannies: come inside the powerhouse dream team of USA basketball at the Paris Olympics.
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The USA men’s basketball team – the Supreme Team – is the biggest show on Earth wherever they go.
And they have always done things their own way.
When you’ve got a mega talented team worth more than $600m you don’t mess around.
Forbes has estimated it has cost $15m to send both the men’s and women’s squads to Paris.
It’s an astronomical figure but these are some of the highest profile NBA athletes on the planet – all in one place at the same time.
On the court they are dripping with talent, and managing those egos to work as a tight knit team is no mean feat for coach Steve Kerr.
Off the court, they are a travelling circus with family, staff, friends and security along for the ride.
The entire entourage needs roughly 700 rooms to accommodate the players and their families, support staff, executives and NBA personnel.
Led by superstars LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, this group is destined for golden glory.
Along with Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Kawhi Leonard, Bam Adebayo, Tyrese Haliburton and Cameroonian-born centre Joel Embiid, it’s no wonder Curry described seeing the team sheet as “surreal”.
Stars and Sponsors
When NBA and Dream Team superstars Steph Curry and Kevin Durant spoke to the media ahead of the Olympics at a press conference in Paris, there wasn’t a spare seat in the house.
These were two of the biggest stars in the world talking in Paris and representing the biggest brand competing in the Games.
LA Laker giant LeBron James was the top-earning player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the 2023-24 season, with a salary of $US47.6 million and about $US70 million in off-court income.
The Golden State Warriors’ Curry was the second highest paid NBA player, with a salary of $US51.9 million US and $US50m in income from endorsement deals.
Kevin Durant has personal sponsorships worth over $US45 million largely with Nike, who have produced his signature shoe, as well as FanDuel and Fanatics.
Devin Booker was handing out his Nike shoe to fans on a Paris street last week.
Nike is the main sponsor of the team and a raft of others follow.
The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is paying athletes $37,500 for every gold medal; $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze.
Small fry for what these guys earn.
Celebs and VIPs
One of the hottest tickets in town has been courtside at the basketball when Team USA is playing.
Among those spotted early on in Lille were Americans Jason Kelce, New York Knicks super fan and director Spike Lee and Snoop Dogg, as well as King Frederik of Denmark.
Now with the games moved to Paris, there’ll be more faces bob up in the crowd.
NFL legend Tom Brady, baseball great Alex Rodriguez, Empire actor Taraji P Henson, Saved By The Bell star Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Shameless actor Shanola Hampton and French swimming hero Leon Marchand were at the game at Bercy Arena.
On Monday the team had an event called A Celebration of Olympic Basketball presented by NBC Universal and NBA at Team USA House, Palais Brongniart.
Brady was all smiles there and Snoop Dogg performed.
From the moment LeBron James stepped out in a suave white Ralph Lauren jacket as flag bearer at the opening ceremony, it was game on.
Entourage and hotels
It might not come as a shock considering their status, but each USA player has their own security.
Staying at the four star Paris Marriott Opera Hotel in Paris, the team is looked after like royalty.
Police block traffic to allow the multi-millionaires to move freely between their hotel and the training base and even cyclists are blocked from using a cycle lane outside the hotel.
Every guest has their identity checked and NBA staff wear the association’s name tags to confirm they are legit with the word “Showcase”.
The basketball entourage includes nannies with the children of the stars, admin and logistical staff.
At USA basketball’s hotel players are offered top notch French cuisine and bars serve up classic cocktails.
Some of the rooms offer landscape views of the Eiffel Tower from the eighth floor and others offer wi-fi, bottled water, bathrobes, slippers and Nespresso coffee machines.
Rooms range in price from around $225 to $500 per night with more for select suites.
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Originally published as Paris Olympics 2024: Inside team USA basketball’s golden machine
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