Who was the MVP of Team USA?

Four years ago, Manu Ginobili was named MVP of the Olympic tournament.  Ginobili was the undisputed leader on and off the floor for Argentina as he averaged a tournament high 19.3 ppg.

Fellow Argentinian Luis Scola was the tournament MVP in last summer’s FIBA games.

This year’s Olympic tournament MVP will undoubtedly be chosen from the United States.

Three players deserve consideration:  Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant.

Wade was third in minutes played (18.8), first in scoring (16.0), second in steals (2.3), and shot 67% from the field, 47% from the three-point line, and 63% from free throw line.  Wade was on fire to begin the tournament, but posted two subpar (by his Olympic standards) games heading into the gold medal contest with Spain.  But with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant forced to the bench with foul trouble and the United States trailing by four, Wade scored 21 of his game-high 27 points in the first half to give the US an eight point cushion heading into the third quarter.  Wade also connected on a three-pointer that extended Team USA’s lead from four to seven with 2:08 to go.

Wade played fantastic for Team USA and is a worthy candidate for MVP.

But I think there is a player more deserving.

Kobe Bryant averaged a third best 15.0 points per game, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, while shooting 46% from the field, 32% from the three-point line, and 58% from the free throw line.  Bryant shook off a so-so tournament to score or assist on 18 of Team USA’s final 25 points against Spain.  Bryant stepped up to the plate when his team needed him most, and for that, he deserves MVP of the gold medal game.  But he wasn’t the MVP of the Olympic tournament.

That honor belongs to LeBron James.  James was second on the team in scoring (15.5), third in rebounds (5.3), second in assists (3.8), first in blocks (2.0), and first in steals (2.4).  It could be argued that James’ numbers were inflated due to his team-high 24.8 minutes per game.  But James played more than any other member of Team USA because he was the best player on the floor.  Coach K utilized James’ combination of size, speed, power, and finesse, at three positions (small forward, power forward, and center) and LeBron excelled at each.

Remember when pundits were concerned with Team USA’s lack of size in the frontcourt?  James put all of those concerns to rest by playing the majority of his minutes down low.

James’ highlights weren’t as impressive as Wade’s, but his versatility was jaw-dropping.  James protected the basket, brought the ball up the floor, distributed, and scored inside and out.  James led on the court and off as he emerged as the voice of Team USA — it was LeBron that spoke to the team in every huddle.  And it was James that quarterbacked the defense from the power forward position, barking out instructions and calling out picks.

After their gold medal game performances, Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade appear to be the favorites, but LeBron James was the Most Valuable Player of the Olympic tournament.