Photo sparks Olympics basketball conspiracy: ‘Don’t be surprised’

It doesn’t happen every four years but there’s a couple of very famous examples of the Olympics having a dramatic impact on the make-up of the NBA.

You suspect the likes of LeBron James and Steph Curry were hoping this chapter in USA men’s basketball history would be remembered in the same vein as the 1992 Dream Team, but the truth is it’s been a largely uneventful run for the Americans in Paris.

They’re not going to change the game on a global scale like Michael Jordan and Co did in Barcelona, or be cherished like Kobe and the Redeem Teamers were for returning their country to the top of the basketball world in Beijing.

The Americans will (probably) win gold and (probably) win it comfortably this weekend, but they’ll join the likes of the 2000 and 2016 teams in getting the job done with a minimum of fuss.

The only semi-interesting storylines to this point have been the minor controversy over Jayson Tatum getting a DNP early in the group stage and Joel Embiid getting booed relentlessly by French crowds upset he’s not playing for them.

Which, if you know basketball fans, leads to the inevitable habit of crystal ball-gazing. Specifically, about potential NBA trades.

It doesn’t happen every four years but there’s a couple of very famous examples of superstar players joining forces after forging bonds on an Olympic trip.

LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh changed the league by uniting in Miami after winning gold together in 2008.

Redeem Teamers LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan did the same in Brooklyn after living on a yacht together in Rio, albeit with contrasting results.

So hoops fans are looking for any slight indication a player from their favourite team is becoming particularly chummy with one of his US teammates.

James and Curry were in focus when the Americans first assembled.

NBA Finals rivals for four straight years from 2015-18 – a period where there were moments you felt the King really didn’t like the three-point wizard from Golden State – James and Curry have become great buds in recent years.

They spoke often about their excitement at playing together and recent comments by Curry — where he said he wants to be a Warrior for life but “things change quickly” in the NBA — gave some life to the idea of him joining forces with the Lakers veteran.

Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan forged bonds in Rio in 2016. Picture: Getty

But James and Curry probably make too much money to fit on the same team at this point of their careers.

Outside of those two, Durant and Devin Booker’s situation in Phoenix is far from settled given what their owner is forking out for a team that has so far fallen short. Embiid is another who often hears speculation about his future in Philadelphia.

But the name on the lips of the most NBA fan bases is Anthony Edwards. The breakout star of this year’s NBA playoffs does not exactly play in the most appealing of destinations with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

If you gave every team the ability to sign one young American talent they’d almost all pick the recently turned 23-year-old shooting guard.

Which brings us to this photo.

Anthony Edwards and Bam Adebayo share a laugh together. (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images)

Edwards is a jokester who can make anyone laugh but the chemistry he appears to share with Miami Heat big man Adebayo has the rumour mill running.

To make matters worse for Wolves fans, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is in Paris too serving as an assistant coach under Steve Kerr.

“Anthony Edwards really loves Bam Adebayo and Erik Spoelstra. He loved his experience with them,” NBA media personality Bill Simmons said on a recent podcast.

“Don’t be surprised … story drop,” Simmons added. “Am I dropping it now?”

Both Adebayo and Spoelstra have spoken glowingly about the man leading this USA team in scoring.

“He’s authentically himself,” Adebayo said to The Star Tribune. “He’s not going to change.

“He’s going to be the same person every day, on the court, off the court.

“You see on TV, when some of y’all make these moments go viral. It’s really like, ‘This is just you’. This is one of the things I love about Ant. He’s himself. He’s not going to change.

“He’s one of those guys where he can say something wild, as we heard, but it’s him being himself.”

Anthony Edwards pats Bam Adebayo on the back. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

“He wants to win, wants to be a part of winning,” Spoelstra added. “He’s dedicated to the process of it and he’s going to be him, and his personality.

“He’s not going to change just because he’s on a team of this caliber. I think that’s the beauty of his personality.”

Many are rightly pointing out Edwards recently signed a five-year contract extension tying him to the Wolves until 2028.

But a move doesn’t have to happen immediately. Paris might just be planting seeds that blossom down the road.

And it’s not unheard of for NBA players to push their way out of situations early. So remember this photo.

Originally published as Photo sparks Olympics basketball conspiracy: ‘Don’t be surprised’