VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Men’s Basketball Director Grant Hill Says Team USA ‘Has A Target On Their Backs’

Grant Hill, managing director of the USA Men’s National Basketball Team, expressed optimism about the squad’s prospects for the upcoming Paris Olympics, acknowledging the pressure of representing the nation on the global stage.

“Every USA basketball team has a target on their backs,” Hill told uInterview at the Team USA Media Summit. “We know we will be targeted, and teams will want to beat us.”

The former NBA star emphasized that this pressure motivates the players selected for the team. “That’s what these guys want. They want that responsibility, they want that pressure, they want to be on that stage,” Hill explained.

Team USA has dominated men’s basketball at the Olympics, winning four consecutive gold medals since 2008. However, their supremacy faced challenges at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where they lost to France in the opening game before rallying to claim gold.

Hill, who took over as managing director in 2021, succeeding Jerry Colangelo, brings a wealth of experience to his role. A two-time Olympic gold medalist himself (1996, 2000), Hill had an illustrious 19-year NBA career that included seven All-Star selections.

Looking ahead to Paris, Hill highlighted the caliber of players on the roster. “This team has some incredible star power, players with incredible legacies,” he said, without naming specific individuals.

The 51-year-old executive expressed excitement about the team’s potential, stating, “We look forward to coming together and seeing what our potential can be. And hopefully, that’s greatness, and hopefully, that’s gold.”

The men’s basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics is scheduled to begin on July 27, 2024. Team USA aims to secure its fifth consecutive gold medal.