Team USA Basketball Showcase vs. Canada: how and where to watch
Team USA is gearing up for the Paris Olympics with a five game world tour. They tip off their first exhibition against Canada tonight from Las Vegas.
Team USA has amassed some of the best basketball players in the world to make up a team that some are comparing to the Dream Team of the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Watching this team going to be one of the events of the Paris Olympics, and we will get our first glimpse of them tonight from Las Vegas.
A first look at new look Team USA
Basketball fans have been salivating since last summer when LeBron James and Steph Curry were among the stars that committed to the Olympics after the US fizzled out of the World Cup in a disappointing fourth place finish. With the rest of the world catching up to the country in which the sport was created, James, Curry and the rest of the best American players are ready to reassert their dominance in Paris.
After an express mini camp in Las Vegas, and a scare in a scrimmage against a team comprised of young NBA players and amateur players, it’s time for Team USA to start their pre-Olympics tour. The Team USA Showcase as it’s being dubbed will feature five games against teams that will be joining them in Paris this summer.
The Showcase begins tonight when Team USA hosts Canada in Las Vegas to kick off what will be a world tour of sorts. After their game in Las Vegas, they will head to Abu Dhabi for a couple games, and then London for a couple games before heading to Paris for the Opening Ceremony.
How and where to watch
Team USA will tip off their exhibition tour from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The game will tip off at 10:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on FS1 in the US or Sportsnet One in Canada. The game can also be streamed on FuboTV (free trial available).
While Team USA is getting all of the pre tournament attention, watch out for Canada. This is a team led by NBA Champion Jamal Murray and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Lu Dort and Dillon Brooks are the defensive stoppers for the Canadians, while Kyle Alexander was surprisingly left off the team. NBA Champion Andrew Wiggins and rookie Zach Edey withdrew their names from the roster, but this is still a very competitive team that beat Team USA for third place in the World Cup last year.
After the game, Team USA will travel to Abu Dhabi to play Australia and Serbia while it appears Canada will return to their base camp and prepare for the Olympics without any other exhibitions.