Steve Kerr was ready to take the blame had LeBron James not saved Team USA from a narrow loss to South Sudan.
Though Team USA emerged victorious in their 101-100 exhibition win in London, the men’s national team head coach feels he could have done more to prepare his men.
“I did not do a great job preparing our team,” Kerr said after the game, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. “We did not focus enough on what they’re capable of, and that’s on me. I think that really allowed South Sudan to gain confidence early.
“They were great. They played a wonderful game and the ending was good for us, just to feel that, to feel what it’s going to be like in Paris and Lille.”
Team USA was behind Sudan by as many as 16 points during the game.
LeBron James led Team USA with 25 points, including a basket with 8 seconds left that saved them from a one-point deficit in the last twenty seconds.
South Sudan made an alarmingly close attempt to regain the lead, coming too-close for comfort multiple times as the clock dwindled down.
Team USA is now 4-0 in their friendly games before the Paris Olympics, Saturday night being the closest the team has come to an exhibition loss.
The team will face Germany on Monday and then make their way to Group C play at the Olympics beginning July 28.
Team USA will face South Sudan again on July 31 in a rematch for which Kerr would hope his team is better prepared.