There’s been much debate in recent years over who the new “face” of the NBA is, as many of the players that have dominated the league for years are in the twilight of their career.

But if Sunday’s Team USA Olympic opener was any indication, the old guard isn’t going anywhere.

Today’s Lineup

Stars and Stripes

After months of roster drama, exhibitions, and even a rainy boat voyage, Team USA men’s basketball finally began their quest for a fifth consecutive gold medal on Sunday, facing off against Serbia in the first game of group play. And while three-time MVP Nikola Jokic put up a valiant effort, it was not enough against the juggernaut that is Team USA, with the Americans cruising to a 110-84 victory.

The story of this game was the old heads, with Kevin Durant notching 23 PTS and only missing field goal through the entire game—talk about easy money sniping! The Joker did his best to level the playing field, dropping 20 PTS and 8 AST, but it was no use as his squad struggled mightily when he left the floor. The American all-star squad used a lethal long-range attack (56% from three) to take down the Serbians.

For all the hype that’s been created about Team USA’s star power, it may be their unimaginable depth that creates the biggest mismatch. For context, All-NBA first-teamer Jayson Tatum did not log a single minute in Sunday’s game, and Team USA still won by 20+. Tatum’s time will come, but that stat alone should scare every other team in Paris.

Wonderful Wemby

If you don’t believe in aliens, we suggest you watch France’s Olympic opener— there’s a decent chance it’ll change your mind.

Playing in his first ever Olympics (not to mention in his home nation) Victor Wembanyama showed the world why he’s the odds-on favorite to be basketball’s best transcendental superstar. After France failed to win a single exhibition game, Wemby ensured the actual Games would be different, pouring in 19 PTS, 9 REB, and 3 BLK in France’s first game. Nic Batum also got in on the action, contributing 19 PTS of his own to help the French to a 78-66 win over Brazil on Saturday.

While Wemby’s stat line wasn’t anything totally unbelievable, the scenes from the game were nothing short of otherworldly. Some of the snapshots, from a Space Jam-esque dunk to a comically-mismatched fadeaway, make us think that the Olympics may need to create a new delegation for extraterrestrials. Population: Wemby 👽

Suns Out!

While the coals of Free Agency have mostly cooled off, some teams are still making deals to heat up their rosters. One such team is Phoenix, who nabbed a new point guard over the weekend to run their star-studded offense: Tyus Jones.

Ever since winning the national championship and being named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player with Duke in 2015, Jones has become something of an NBA journeyman— Phoenix marks his fourth team in ten seasons. But he’s still been rock solid at every stop, most recently averaging 12 PPG and 7 APG for Washington last season.

There’s no doubt Phoenix has the talent to make waves in the West—trios like KD, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal don’t exactly grow on trees (and they definitely don’t grow in the desert!). Adding a facilitator like Jones could be the missing piece they’ve been looking for…

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! This week, do your best to focus on the things you can control. There’s so many boxes to check in life, but it all becomes easier when you set your sights on the ones you can check yourself. See you soon!

-Walker Carnathan