NBA Veteran CJ Miles Reacts to Team USA’s Gold, Says Steph Curry Belongs In ‘Best Players Ever’ Conversation

5 min read
Aug 11, 2024, 9:09 AM
CJ Miles

CJ Miles // Eric P. Mull-US PRESSWIRE

Stephen Curry is widely regarded as the greatest shooter to ever pick up a basketball.

After leading Team USA to a 98-87 victory over France in the gold-medal game at the Paris Olympics, 16-year NBA veteran CJ Miles believes Curry also belongs in the conversation as one of the greatest players of all time.

“Steph just continues to solidify who is the greatest shooter of all time [and] what’s crazy is as he continues to make that gap even bigger, he places himself in the realm of best players ever,” Miles told RG.org in an exclusive interview. “I think players see him that way, but the narrative is never that when we talk about him.”

Curry put Team USA on his back down the stretch, hitting four 3s in the final two-and-a-half minutes to seal the victory. Curry, who celebrated with his famed “Night Night” gesture, finished the game with 24 points, eight 3s, five assists, and two steals. Miles described the performance as “wild,” and joked that Curry makes the game look “Stephortless.”

Team USA captured the gold medal after facing some close calls throughout their Olympic run. LeBron James was named MVP of these Olympics, just four months shy of his 40th birthday. He filled the stat sheet against France, totaling 14 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, two steals, and one block.

“As far as LeBron goes, [his longevity] is incredible. I think it just really speaks to the power of his mind,” Miles said. “We as people have a fascination with youth and we get bored with greatness because there is nothing left to figure out. I know I am getting 25, 8 and 8 from him [every game], and that’s not exciting from a fan standpoint; they want entertainment, which is full of unpredictability.

“But the fact that he has stayed great this long, is still having fun, and is still able to step out and dominate in an entertaining way is flat out GOAT activity.”

France put up a strong effort in front of their fans, with Victor Wembanyama leading the way. The 20-year-old phenom finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, and three 3s.

“On Team USA’s side, there were mental mistakes that we don’t see from these guys usually, maybe because of who they are on the floor with, and some guys who they feel allow them to relax — I’m not sure. But mix that with the talent and urgency of France and you leave doors open. France competed.

“I think once Victor becomes who he will inevitably be, the gold is really up for grabs every four years. And not just us talking about it like, ‘Maybe France has a chance.’ It will change to us not really knowing [who will win].… 

I think Wemby has the potential to be literally anything [he wants] and be a great. I just hope he doesn’t get caught up in that. Like, don’t get caught up in being something we have never seen before — he’s already accomplished that! Just round out your game and let the seasons show you what you need to do as you move forward.”

France’s Guerschon Yabusele also caught Miles’ eye. The 28-year-old had 20 points and two steals. He had a stint with the Boston Celtics earlier in his career, but has played overseas over the last five years. Miles could see that changing soon.

“Yabusele was phenomenal,” Miles said. “And if he wants to be [back in the league], he will be on an NBA roster soon.” 

This marked the first time that James, Curry, and Kevin Durant played together on the international stage. Team USA ended up heavily relying on the veteran trio throughout the Olympics, leading some to question what the future holds for Team USA. 

What will the squad look like at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and who will emerge as the new leaders? Miles isn’t concerned.

“As far as the future, Team USA is in great hands. Ant [Edwards], [Tyrese] Haliburton, [Jayson] Tatum. And the guys on this team playing small roles like [Devin] Booker and Bam [Adebayo] are capable of doing incredible things also,” Miles explained.

“And there are guys who will rise up in the next couple of years who are more than capable of being handed the keys. I myself can’t wait to see Tyrese Maxey go [play in the Olympics].”

For now, Team USA can celebrate their fifth-straight Olympic gold medal, as the star-studded squad overcame some scares and lived up to the hype.

Alex Kennedy is an NBA reporter, editor and podcaster. He has covered the NBA for the last 19 years, writing for ESPN, HoopsHype, USA TODAY Sports, Bleacher Report, and Basketball News among others. As the Chief Content Officer at Basketball News, he built and managed the staff, which consisted of journalists and former NBA players. His Twitter account is featured in NBA 2K each year.

Interests:
NBA

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Our Authors

Paruyr Shahbazyan began his business career in 2000 as a private entrepreneur. Over thirteen years, he developed a deep understanding for business and leadership, laying a solid foundation for his professional journey.

In 2013, Paruyr stepped into the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating. This online mass media platform, which he led until 2020, focused on providing in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting, earning a reputation for its quality content. 

Continuing his innovative approach in 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This venture showcases his dedication to integrating advanced technology in the evolving landscape of sports betting. Through these diverse experiences, Paruyr has continuously influenced and shaped the betting industry, driving new trends and setting high standards.

 ExperienceYear
Engaged in private entrepreneurship2000-2013
Founder and President at Bookmaker Rating, an online platform focused on sports and betting2013-2020
Co-founder at Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol2022

"Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports." 

- Paruyr Shahbazyan, Founder, RG

 

Principles and Ethics

Paruyr Shahbazyan's core beliefs lie in the power of informed decision-making and integrity in the betting industry. He understands that the foundation of successful betting is not just about odds and predictions, but also about the trust and reliability of the information provided. Paruyr advocates for a betting environment where transparency and knowledge are paramount, ensuring that bettors are well-equipped with accurate data and insights.

Strategic Vision

Paruyr's vision is to revolutionize the sports betting industry through the integration of technology. He sees the future of betting as a blend of traditional sports knowledge with innovative tech solutions, like decentralized protocols, to enhance user experience and fairness. His aim is to create platforms that are not only user-friendly but also uphold the highest standards of ethical betting, contributing to a more responsible and enjoyable betting culture.

Future Perspectives

Looking towards the future, Paruyr envisions a betting landscape that is more inclusive, technologically advanced, and globally connected. He anticipates a significant shift towards more decentralized and transparent betting systems, driven by blockchain technology. Paruyr is committed to being at the forefront of this change, continuously exploring new possibilities and innovations that can redefine what it means to engage in sports betting in a digital world. His focus is on building systems that prioritize user empowerment, fairness, and the global growth of the sports betting community.

 

Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Editor-in-Chief

Sol has over 20 years of experience in writing for diverse industries including sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups. As the Editor-in-Chief at RG, Sol brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role, focusing on delivering transparent, evidence-based content grounded in thorough research. Sol's mission is to empower readers to enjoy gambling responsibly and make informed decisions, enhancing their overall experience through insightful and engaging content. Under Sol's leadership, RG prioritizes the highest standards of integrity and reliability, ensuring that all information provided is accurate and trustworthy. Sol's dedication to transparency and research-based writing helps create a responsible gambling environment where readers can truly benefit from the content. This commitment to excellence has positioned RG as a leading source of information in the gambling industry.

Experience:

  • Over 20 years in writing and editing across multiple industries
  • Former head of regional innovation at BMO Financial Group
  • Senior Writer, Online Casino Reports
Cristina Varela Galan
Cristina Varela Galan
Problem Gambling Expert

Cristina used to work as a Psychology Assistant in the Bizkaia Pathological and Risky Gamblers Association. She was also part of a research team in Deusto University, specializing in pathological gambling area. While working there, she managed to develop her own project 

 “Exploring the association between emotional regulation, alexithymia, stressful life events and gambling in adolescent and young adult women”.

Nick Ashbourne
Nick Ashbourne
Senior Writer

Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.

Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022. 

Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the Responsible Gambler team.

Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Head of News Department

Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.

Anna Kravtcova
Anna Kravtcova
Problem Gambling Expert

Ph.D. in organizational psychology, an internationally certified psychologist (EuroPsy 2022, Cognitive behavioural therapy of mindfulness 2020, International Society for Emotional Intelligence 2017, Russian Psychological society 2014, American Psychological Association(Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist) 2011), speaker of many international conferences (USA, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.). TEDx speaker.

Mark Medina
Mark Medina
NBA Reporter

Mark Medina is a longtime NBA reporter that includes stints as a Lakers blogger with The Los Angeles Times (2010-12), Lakers beat writer with the Los Angeles Daily News (2012-17), Warriors beat writer with Bay Area News Group (2017-19) as well as an NBA reporter/columnist for USA Today (2019-21) and NBA.com (2021-23). Medina is also an NBA insider with Fox Sports Radio and frequent contributor to CBSLA's SportsCentralLA with Jim Hill and with Spectrum Sportsnet.

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria went to St. Petersburg State University and earned a bachelor of international journalism. Working as a sports journalist from 2014, from 2016 as a hockey journalist. Covered 5 World Championships, 2022 Winter Olympics, 2020 World Juniors, 6 Gagarin Cup Finals. 

Owner of a telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth.

Integrative nutritionist specializing on sports nutritionology.

Paul M. Banks
Paul M. Banks
Sports Reporter

Paul M. Banks is a professional Content Creator whose career has seen bylines in numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Banks has made scores of guest appearances on live radio and television, featuring regularly on NTD News, WGN-TV, CCTV, ESPN Radio, the History Channel, SiriusXM and CBS Sports Radio.

He is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank.net, which has been featured and linked in hundreds of leading media outlets all across the world.

He has also authored two books, one of which, "No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in Sports Media," became an assigned textbook in journalism courses at State University New York-Oneonta.

Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
Hockey Reporter

Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.

Show More