The Boston Celtics seem to have brought the edge out in the NBA. When questioned by reporters at the 2024 Olympics whether or not they had any advice for the Cs on repeating, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry acted as though even asking was a fool's errand.
"I wouldn't give them any advice, to be honest," Durant said (h/t NBC Sports). "None."
"Straight up," Curry added.
Bet. Boston doesn't need Durant and Curry's advice, since their Golden State Warriors won during a different era; one before the luxury tax's second apron made acquiring players so difficult. The Celtics are playing under a different set of salary cap rules from the Dubs and are constructed differently anyway. Their advice wouldn't go all that far.
Since that's the case, both players showing minimal love to their Team USA teammates, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White, is probably good for the league's overall competitiveness next season.
The 1992 Dream Team was full of players who didn't like each other. They still got the job done for their country. It looks like the 2024 team has some of that energy, though their exhibition results have not exactly been encouraging so far; barely beating Germany and South Sudan isn't exactly the most encouraging early slate.
Boston Celtics must only worry about internal relationships
Curry and KD not giving the Celtics the time of day should be no sweat off any Celtics fan's back. What does matter is how the players who wear green feel about each other.
And luckily, the most important relationship on the team, between the two Supermax contract-holders, Tatum and Jaylen Brown, is showing no signs of having spoiled. If anything, Tatum's recent Sports Illustrated interview read like an olive branch to Brown for having ever been anything less than the best teammate possible.
No worries if some of Boston's fiercest recent playoff rivals have no burning desire to see the Celtics succeed and won't offer advice.
That's how it should be.