For the second straight time, Team USA failed to win not only the gold medal, but any medal in the FIBA World Cup.
They had a shot at the bronze medal on Sunday, but they lost in overtime to Canada, 127-118, and now they are left to pick up the pieces and determine what went wrong.
Former NBA player JJ Redick said on his podcast, via ClutchPoints, that perhaps Team USA shouldn’t automatically be expected to win the gold medal every time in international competition.
“Ask [Dwyane Wade] if ’08 was easy. Ask [Chris Paul] if ’12 was easy. Ask [Devin Booker] if ’21— It’s not easy at this level to win gold. I think we need to reframe the entire conversation.”
JJ Redick on international basketball.
(via @OldManAndThree)pic.twitter.com/nXDs1PjRFu
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 11, 2023
The biggest problem for the Americans in this World Cup was defense — they lost three of their last four games, and in each of those games, they allowed at least 110 points through regulation.
When an NBA team allows 110-115 points in a game, that game is still winnable, but giving up 110 points in a 40-minute FIBA game is inexcusable.
Many have noted that a big culprit is the roster USA Basketball put together, which lacked size.
Lithuania, Germany, and Canada, the three teams they lost to, were all able to expose this lack of size, especially up front and at the wing position.
Another culprit is the fact that although Team USA fielded a potent roster, none of the very best American players took part in the World Cup.
With next year’s summer Olympics beckoning, there is now word that LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry are ready to commit to representing the nation in Paris.
BREAKING: Lebron James is “ready to commit” to playing for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside Kevin Durant and Steph Curry pic.twitter.com/v50qWnPp68
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) September 11, 2023
While James and Durant have won multiple Olympic gold medals, Curry helped Team USA win the gold in the 2010 and 2014 FIBA Worlds.
Curry has yet to participate in the Olympics as a member of USA Basketball.
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