Jeremy Ingram (183-G-1991, college: AAMU) is a191 cm guard that was born in Alabama and has played his entire professional career in Germany for teams like Speyer, Idstein, Bensheim, SG Mannheim, TSV Bargteheide and SG Braunschweig. He began his career with Enterprise State College (JUCO) and then finished with Alabama A&M University (NCAA). He spoke to germanhoops.com about the 2024 Olympics.

Thanks Jeremy for talking to germanhoops.com. It´s Olympics time. Is the basketball competition one that excites you with the team USA on board with many of their absolute best. Can one still call them a Dream team?

I love the team the USA put together this year. Curry and Lebron on the same team is crazy with Kevin Durant, I think they’re dynamic for sure. I would never call them the Dream Team though. I´m honestly taking the Dream Team over this team.

Team USA had to seriously buckle down against South Sudan and Germany. Are these 2 of the best examples that not only has the world caught up in basketball, but could beat this team in crunch-time with perhaps a little more luck and no Lebron James?

I do think the world is catching up in basketball but I also don’t think this team is as good as people think it is. I think there is a lot if big names on the team but the chemistry is not nearly as prominent as the Dream team and the Redeem Team, in my opinion.

Germany played an incredible game and gave Team USA all they had but lost by 4 as Lebron James saved the day. About how far is Team USA from being 100% ready for the Olympics?

With Kevin Durant they are obviously much stronger because he is 1 of the greatest scorers ever so I think if he would have played it wouldn’t had been so close. Germany still played a great game though.

Lebron James showed again why he is still the best in the world scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter and the team´s last 11 points to silence Germany. Was that performance about as Jordan as it gets?

Lebron definitely showed why he is 1 of the greatest players ever with a great down the stretch performance. But comparing him to Jordan, not even close. Lebron missed 2 huge free throws at the end of that game that I just can’t see Jordan or Kobe missing. Lebron has been carrying the team in clutch time though showing why he is the leader of that team.

Kevin Durant didn´t play. How vital is he for Team USA and is his presence the difference from say a nailbitter win and more comfortable win by 10 points?

When Kevin Durant returns and is fully healthy I think they are unbeatable and I think they start winning big.

It seems at times Team USA takes plays off and does too much isolation which is normal from NBA guys and guys that have super individual qualities. What is still missing from Team USA to be able to win games more comfortably?

I think they need to play better team defense so they can get out and run more and that´s when they start blowing teams out. The isolation ball is normal for Americans but once they start getting steals and pushing the break off of missed shots they are super dangerous.

Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum looked invisible in the Germany game. How vital is it getting these 2 guys more involved in the offense on a team where every guy is a walking bucket

I don’t see neither 1 of those guys having significant roles on this team. I think they are both great but they play behind Kevin Durant and Steph Curry so there´s not much room for them to be as effective as they are on their NBA teams.

Team USA looked good on defense and then on other plays not so good. In between, they made huge athletic blocks. What do they need to tighten up most there?

I think it was just effort. They can really get after it, if they want to. Maybe once the real games start they won’t have so many lapses like they’ve been having.

Team Germany played a spirited game. How good do they look? They are a team that showed at the World Cup that they were able to keep developing as a team as the tournament went on. Do they have pressure as the World cup champion?

I think Germany is getting better every year and I think they have a lot of supporters. Other than USA I want to see Germany do good. I think Germany should have the pressure of at least winning 2nd place. I can’t see them win Gold. I think either them or Serbia should compete for silver. Canada will also try to compete for those top 3 spots so Germany will have to bring it.

Dennis Schroeder had a solid 13/10 game in 17 minutes despite having a bad shooting day. Can he take his game to another level despite being the 2023 World Cup MVP?

I think he does his job well and the guys on that team all accept that he is the leader of that team which makes his job a lot easier. Dennis will be ok, he loves international play so I expect him to play well almost every game, he will have to if they want silver or bronze.

Sharp shooter Andi Obst continues to make incredible bombs from outside. Could he finally get an NBA chance after a successful Olympics?

He is definitely 1 of the best shooters in the world. I mean maybe he is happy with his role and money even his life overseas. I think he can shoot but I honestly don’t see him in a NBA uniform.

Germany and USA will advance from their groups, but how tough is that group A with Canada, Spain, Greece and Australia. Who won´t survive there?

It´s hard to say but I´m going to say Spain won’t survive from this group. I think Spain was tougher years before in previous Olympics. South Sudan showed their fighting qualities against Team USA.

Do you see a sleeper going far in this competition?

I think they played great Against USA and I think it´s possible they may shock a team, but I don’t see too much from them because their are a lot of good teams in the Olympics.

Please predict the 3 medals and who will capture them?

USA Serbia Germany. I think these are the top 3 teams, in that order.

What would be the score between Dream Team USA 1992 and Team USA 2024 in a game?

I don’t know the score but I think Dream Team would lose simply because it´s a different game today and everyone on this 2024 team can do so many different things. I like the Dream team better though.

Thanks Jeremy for the chat.