Omari Knox (185-SG-1986, college: Bloomfield) is a 37 year old 190cm guard from Brooklyn, New York who enjoyed a 13 year professional season and last played with the TSV Oberaching Tropics averaging 20.0ppg), 5.3rpg, 2.8apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 87.9%. He began his basketball career with Bloomfield College (NCAA2) and came overseas in 2009 and played 4 seasons with Regionalliga team TSV Dachau Spurs. He also played a season with the RheinStars Cologne as well as 2 seasons with OSB Hellenen Muenchen (Germany-Regionalliga) and a season in Hanau (Pro B). He spoke to germanhoops.com about the 2024 Olympics.

Thanks Omari 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?

Hey Miles, it’s always great talking to you. Yes, I believe every year it’s still the U.S that’s the team to beat. And for the Olympics many of the stars have come out.

Team USA had to seriously buckle down against South Sudan and Germany. Are these 2 of the bets 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 think in general the world and the game of basketball is developing. The talent is not the same, but the rate of development has increased over the last decades. Sudan has a lot of talent and is coached by a tough NYC point guard Royal Ivey. Germany is very complete. Well balanced, role players and go-to-guys who can score at the NBA level.

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?

I think Team USA will be fine. They have plenty of firepower and experience this time around. It’s more about establishing roles even when the team is all playing for one cause.

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?

I would say that was more Lebron than anything else. Jordan in my opinion would have wanted to show everyone from the very beginning who the best player on the floor is. LeBron is capable of doing and being that guy much more, but it’s not his style.

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?
KD is probably the second most important playing on the team behind LeBron. He brings everything. Experience, high level scoring, and stability and flexibility on offense and defense.

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?

Team USA just needs time to establish and accept the roles of the team. These guys are the best players in the NBA, and at the same time the best players on their own teams so they’ll now have to adjust to having a different roles. That’s the point of the exhibition games, just to work the kinks out.

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?

USA needs to tighten up staying disciplined and playing for a cause. It’s almost as if they have to go back to the fundamentals that got them this far. Playing hard and fundamentally sound. The talent and athletic ability is already superior, so they rely on that too often and end up gambling on plays.

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 played a great World Cup and deserved to be champions. They shouldn’t have pressure. They simply need to keep working together and on the things that made them successful last summer. Their team philosophy, chemistry, and NBA stars need to improve from last year to take it the next level and get the Gold this summer.

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 Dennis has shown that he’s an elite level NBA player over the years in the NBA. I think he now feeds off of playing in the International events and if he and the team get hot at the right time then they can go far and I could see him as an MVP candidate, this summer.

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

Andi Obst has shown he’s one of the best shooters in the world. I think he would have to showcase a bit more to get into the NBA.

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

I think Australia or Greece will now get through.

South Sudan showed their fighting qualities against Team USA. Do you see a sleeper going far in this competition?

South Sudan, if they continue to play at that level and with their chemistry they have a chance to surprise some people. Having a guy like Carlik Jones on your team makes a huge difference. Shayok and Gabriel with a ton of experience.

Please predict the 3 medals and who will capture them?

USA for Gold Germany Silver France Bronze

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

97-94 for THE DREAM TEAM

Thanks Omari for the chat.