The 2023 FIBA World Cup is underway and Team USA is being represented by NBA’s young talent. With superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry opting out of the tournament, Team USA has recruited rising NBA stars like Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, and Austin Reaves. Even without their veteran superstars, Team USA has a strong chance of winning this year’s World Cup. But if they fail to do so, the NBA world will be ready to criticize Team USA yet again.

Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has a different opinion on the matter and thinks that Team USA not winning the gold will not be the end of the world.

Charles Barkley claims Team USA losing will be good for basketball

Charles Barkley has made a successful career as an analyst after he retired from the NBA. His takes on Inside The NBA are always trending on social media, either for being too funny or too honest. But the former MVP has earned the right to say whatever he wants because of his accomplishments on the basketball court. Although he never won a championship, Barkley was one of the few superstars in the Michael Jordan era to win an MVP award.

The Round Mound of Rebound talked about Team USA potentially not winning a gold medal. “They act like if we don’t win the gold medal it’s going to be the worst thing to ever happen to civilization. I actually disagree with that,” Barkley said. He believes that Team USA losing would help basketball’s popularity grow in other parts of the world.

Read More: Despite Awful Display of Skill, Charles Barkley Once Boasted About His Unprofessional Habit on the Golf Course

With the NBA going global, and more non-American players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic gaining superstar status in the league, basketball no longer remains a sport primarily dominated by the USA. This is great for the NBA as its market continues to expand. “Can you imagine if France won the gold medal?” Barkley added, stating the positive effects of countries other than the USA winning the gold medal.

Team USA has always faced slander after losing

Charles Barkley is a two-time Olympic Gold medalist in his own right and has faced the tiring schedule of playing a tournament after a grueling NBA season. This is why most NBA superstars choose to not play for Team USA in these big tournaments during their off-season.

If Team USA fails to win a Gold medal in the Olympics or the World Cup, the entire league faces criticism for not sending its superstars to play for the country. The same happened in the 2004 Olympics when Team USA could not secure a Gold medal. Facing backlash, Team USA formed the Redeem Team, which included the best players in the league. Superstars like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant were part of the squad and won back-to-back Gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Watch This Story: After Adding Michael Jordan’s Signature Move, Can Anthony Edwards Live Up to the Hype in FIBA World Cup for Team USA?

Even though Team USA can win the FIBA World Cup, Charles Barkley makes a fair point about them potentially losing. With the first pick in this year’s NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama, coming from France, more young athletes from all around the world are making it big in the NBA. This will eventually prove to be great for basketball in the long run. Do you agree with Charles Barkley?