Despite Mikal Bridges’ miraculous effort to force overtime, Team USA ultimately succumbed to Canada’s explosive performance. Canada secured a bronze medal in the FIBA 2023 World Cup with a 127-118 victory in overtime. It marked a historic day for the Canadian basketball scene. They clinched their first-ever medal in the competition and also managed to outshine Team USA; often considered as its basketball big brother. However, it is essential to think that the USA did not have the likes of Kevin Durant, LeBron James or Stephen Curry.
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was expected to be the showdown star, an unexpected player emerged as the catalyst for the USA’s medal hopes. Known for his notorious on-court antics, Dillon Brooks delivered a career-best performance. In doing so, he surpassed his highest-scoring NBA game.
NBA Analyst blasts Team USA
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In the highly anticipated game, Brooks ignited from the beginning. He amassed an impressive 21 points by halftime.
The duo delved into the thrilling match in a recent episode of Oddball with Amin Elhassan and Charlotte Wilder. Charlotte, one of the co-hosts, openly expressed her astonishment upon learning that Brooks had emerged as the game’s top scorer. Meanwhile, Amin wasted no time criticizing Team USA for their lacklustre performance. He countered the “our best players weren’t there” argument, exclaiming, “You mean to tell me I need LeBron, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry for Dylan f*****g Brooks?”
By the game’s conclusion, Brooks had achieved a career-high with 39 points. He also added 4 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists. He displayed remarkable accuracy and made 7 of his 8 attempts from beyond the arc. Notably, Brooks’ 39 points marked the highest-scoring performance by a player in a medal-winning game in FIBA World Cup history.
For the United States, this marks the second time in FIBA tournament history that the nation has failed to secure a medal in consecutive tournaments. The first instance occurred during the 1963-1970 stretch.
LeBron James rumored to recruit superstars for the 2024 Olympics
Believers hold the notion that NBA stars deliberately skipped the FIBA tournament to preserve their availability for the 2024 Olympics. They did so to reduce strain on their bodies, maintain health, and minimize injury risks. However, following Team USA’s disappointing performance in the FIBA games, LeBron James has accelerated discussions about the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
With a strong determination to participate, James is rumored to actively recruit multiple basketball superstars for next year’s showdown. It is said that James has already engaged with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, and Draymond Green. Additionally, sources indicate that players like Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, and Kyrie Irving have a serious interest in joining the Olympic squad.
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Furthermore, speculations suggest that James initiated the effort before Team USA’s FIBA loss. However, there’s no doubt that the 2023 tournament will serve as a potent motivator for Team USA’s resurgence next year.
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