Europe is catching up with the sport that Team USA has dominated for decades, as was evident from their performances at the Paris Olympics. In the Showdown against Team USA, Victor Wembanyama scored about 26 points! Thanks to Stephen Curry and LeBron James’ flurry of baskets in the second half of the game, Dream Team 2.0 brought home Gold by an 11-point margin. The same goes for Nikola Jokic and the Serbian squad, who squeezed every bit of effort from Team USA in the semi-final. That’s what got the attention of the ex-NBA star Rashad McCants as he addressed the issue alongside Gilbert Arenas.

McCants had a rather critical stance about Team USA’s victory. “They were supposed to win. You were the best basketball players in the world!” Rashad slowly jibed at the Gold medal glorification. Later, addressing the close encounters that LeBron James and Co. had, McCants added, “It was just a little close for our liking, wasn’t it? … Did the Euros did not look good? The last European teams to play against you. Did they not look good? Did they not give them a f*****g battle?”

Nikola Jokic and Co. were dominating Team USA for 90% of the game in the semi-finals, so this argument does not seem like a hypothesis. McCants had concerns for the next generation of USA Basketball as he said, “Let’s just say 4 years from now, those 4 elders [Steph, KD, LeBron] are gone, they’re in trouble!”

He cited Dennis Schroder‘s “Europeans coming for sure” remark, as he further added, “Y’all basketball ain’t advanced enough to keep up what we are bringing to the table now. It’s going to be closer than we think. I think after that, though, after that ‘3o [Olympics]. So after 28, it’s over! It’s Wemby name, it’s Wemby name all day! No chance,” Rashad McCants warned the Gil’s Arena panel about what’s ahead for USA Basketball.

Seems unbelievable, doesn’t it? Well, let’s just focus on how things would have played out if Stephen Curry hadn’t suddenly brought his A-game late into the fourth quarter against Nikola Jokic and Co.

Steph Curry’s 3-point flurry bridged a 13-point gap against Nikola Jokic and Co.

In the semi-final game against Serbia, Jokic did not score frequently, as he only racked up 17 points. However, from the other end, Ognjen Dobric and Aleksa Avramovic’s 60% and 66.70% beyond-the-arc shooting kept Team USA in check. Not to forget the athleticism on both ends that Bogdan Bogdanovic displayed during his 20-point haul. He gave it his all, be it three-pointers, or stealing the ball from the Dream Team 2.0’s hands. For once, it just felt like he was snatching away the dream of Team USA.

However, it was Stephen Curry on Team USA who scored 36 points. He literally pulled off the victory with those deep rangers in the clutch moments of the game. LeBron was an impact player, like always, in the end, as he helped his NBA rival sail through the Serbian defense while producing baskets on his end as well. Joel Embiid was finally good with his 19-point game and 8 of 11 shooting from the field, also limiting Jokic’s impact under the rim.

In the end, the veterans had to step up and blow away the opponents. So, McCants’ fear was not hypothetical. After these greats are gone, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, along with other future European prodigies, will snatch and leave behind Team USA’s Olympic legacy. What do you all make of it? Do you have a name in mind who can inherit the legacy of the Dream Team 2.0? Let us know.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.