America is indeed already great (at basketball)

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM: Team USA put up two blowouts in basketball on Monday, with the men’s team beating Venezuela 113-69 and the women’s team smoking Spain 103-63. The President is right: America is already great! Venezuela (led by Kobe Bryant’s cousin) actually finished the first quarter tied with the United States on the men’s side before Paul George (20 points) and company shut it down. Next up for the men is 2-0 Australia on Wednesday. The 2-0 women face winless Serbia on Wednesday, as well.

TODAY: Group B is in action on the men’s side. Spain has a crucial game against host Brazil (early game), and Argentina vs. Croatia has high fun potential (late game).

IN OTHER ACTION: Australia beat up Serbia to strengthen their likelihood of making the knockouts, perhaps as the Group A No. 2 seed (which would get them on the opposite side of the bracket from Team USA, presuming Team USA keeps winning). France also bounced back with a blowout win over China.

INTERNAL BATTLE: Claire McNear with a cogent argument that there’s a battle for the Warriors’ soul raging under the surface.

GET HYPED: Yaron Weitzman explains why Sixers fans should be excited by Dario Saric.

TRICKLES: Marc Stein reports that Kevin Durant will first return to OKC for a Saturday night game in February, that Dwyane Wade will get his return to Miami out of the way early in November and that we’re getting Cavs-Warriors on Christmas.

DAVID ALDRIDGE’S OFFSEASON RANKINGS.

UMM: Enes Kanter has reportedly been disowned by his family due to his political leanings as Turkey continues to be roiled by aftershocks from the failed military coup of last month.

AWESOME: Michael Jordan donated $5 million and a game-worn 1996 Finals jersey to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opens next month.

LEBRON HAS NO CHILL WHATSOEVER.

AND FINALLY: T.D. Williams with a thorough, reasoned, Joan Didion-citing explanation of why Charles Barkley hosting TNT’s show about race is a bad idea.

Happy Tuesday. See you next time.