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Team USA star LeBron James and the rest of the U.S. Olympic basketball team got the night off after routing Tunisia and enjoyed the London nightlife at the ‘Funky Buddha’ nightclub. Members of the team reportedly showed up around 2:30 a.m. and stayed until last call before walking back to their hotel.
LONDON â€" The nightlife in central London likely took more out of the Americans than Tunisia.
With a 7-0 record, including five exhibition games since coming together as a team last month, U.S. basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski gave his players the day off on Wednesday to relax, unwind and take in the Olympics. Carmelo Anthony talked about heading over to watch volleyball while others were hoping to catch a race at the aquatics center.
Of course, in traditional NBA style a day off is preceded by a night out and some U.S. players took advantage of the schedule. You could make a case that the Americans had the night off against Tunisia, an overmatched opponent that was in awe of the United States team.
"They look at this game, that's the game of their lives," Krzyzewski said following the 110-63 win. "We told our guys that."
When the Dream Team was barnstorming through Europe in 1992, opposing players routinely posed for pictures and asked for autographs. A player from Tunisia asked Kobe Bryant for his signature after the game.
The NBA players are still some of the biggest stars of the Olympics. There games draw big crowds as do their practices which may have been one reason why Coach K decided to give them the day off with a late game against Nigeria due up on Thursday.
The popularity of the U.S. team has never been higher and it comes at a time when NBA Commissioner David Stern has hinted that FIBA, international basketball's governing body, may want to think about an age restriction.
For example, in Olympic soccer the rosters are players under 23 with three overage players. Olympic basketball, which embraced professional players in 1992, could be different in four years in Brazil.
Kobe, who is playing in his second straight Olympics, has been vocal in his opposition to such a movement saying that the NBA players should have the option to decide if they want to play. A record 38 NBA players are competing in the Olympics.
"I'd be disappointed for Kevin (Love), Russell (Westbrook) and James (Harden)," Bryant said of his younger Olympic teammates. "They should have the ability to choose if they want to perform."
The overall tournament, though, might be better with an age requirement. The U.S. is a heavy favorite to win a second straight gold medal. Argentina, which is considered a challenger, lost to France the other night. Spain, arguably the world's second best national team, lost Timberwolves rookie Ricky Rubio to a knee injury over the winter. Kobe has argued that including NBA players will only enhance the competition and give the other countries something to shoot for.
"The (NBA) probably fears players getting injured and things of that nature," he said. "I don't want jinx ourselves but there has never been a player getting hurt playing for USA basketball."
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