The most brilliant NBA basketball superstars, including living legend LeBron James, 3-point shooting champion Stephen Curry, and 12 other Dream Team comrades, flew to Abu Dhabi to set up a training camp in preparation for the Paris Olympics.

The Dream Team jet arrived in the UAE last Friday. Following two highly busy training sessions, the US basketball team will play a friendly match against Australia today, July 15, and Serbia on July 17 at the Etihad Arena (Yas Island).

The goal of the Abu Dhabi camp is to work out any remaining hitches and allow the superstars time to get to know one another after a long NBA season.

“Living Legend” LeBron (Los Angeles Lakers), “3-Point Shooting King” Curry (4-time NBA Champion with Golden State Warriors), and even coach Steve Kerr were spotted in the most comfortable and calm states while in Abu Dhabi.

The latest iteration of the Dream squad is in good condition and spirit after defeating the Canadian squad in the warm-up game last Wednesday by a “very easy” score of 86-72, with Anthony Edwards (Minesota Timberwolves) scoring 13 points.

This is the first time James and Curry have competed for the United States National Basketball Team in an international event. Of course, the two require a little more time…

Regardless, despite having only played one match together, they are anticipated to lead the latest iteration of the Dream Team to the coveted basketball gold medal for the fifth time in a row at the Olympics.

“We know we can play a lot better, but we’ve only been together four days!” James spoke after his win on Wednesday in front of a throng that included former President Barack Obama at T-Mobile Arena.

“All offensive mistakes and turnovers. We’re going to grow better at it, but it starts with defence. And as long as we focus on defence, we’ll have a chance to win every night,” James explained.

Despite being an attacking superstar, Curry feels that defence is critical to the United States’ Olympic campaign: “We can work out the kinks and timing of the offence, but if we commit to defence, we’ll be good with anybody.”

“Getting this group of guys together always makes for an interesting format. “It’s a challenge to find the chemistry, just going with the flow and rhythm,” Curry explained.

As always, the Dream Team’s main goal – and most likely outcome – at the Paris Olympics is to win gold. However, at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, they were unable to comfortably take gold.

At the Tokyo Olympics, the US team was 10 points behind Spain in the quarterfinals, 15 points behind Australia in the semi-finals, and won the gold medal match against France by a mere 5 points.

This serves as a sharp reminder that the world of basketball has become more connected, and that a Dream Team comprised of NBA stars is no longer a guarantee of success. But this is not what Americans want to hear.

“I hear a lot of people claim that others are catching up to us, but it only makes us hungry and driven. We admire those players, but basketball is still around,” said Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker.

Another well-known veteran, Kevin Durant (of the Phoenix Suns), is on the Dream Team for the Paris Olympics. Durant aims to win his fourth gold medal at the 2024 Olympics, becoming the first basketball player to accomplish this feat.

“Certainly, it would be history for this team. So, honestly, I’d be thrilled to be a part of it,” Edwards remarked. “But I don’t think about it very much. Just glad to be a part of it.”