The FIBA World Cup 2023 is coming to a close very soon after two weeks of intense basketball action. The bronze medal winners are already decided, and it is Canada. They beat the United States of America 127-118 to secure their first-ever medal in the tournament. Oklahoma City Thunder’ star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander captivated audiences globally with his mesmerizing performances during the tournament.
Following Canada’s brilliant win over the USA, SGA received a heartwarming response from the NBA world and he was also recognized by a former NBA champion.
LeBron James former teammate shows love for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
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Gilgeous-Alexander and Team Canada have made their nation proud. Going into the tournament, they were a fan favorite with names like Dillon Brooks, RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk, and many others. An Instagram reel recently shared SGA’s impressive ankle-breaker against Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges during their bronze medal match.
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6-foot-6 inches tall Bridges was no match for the OKC star’s swift movement and brilliant ball-handling skills. Bridges fell to the court and Shai brilliantly converted the play for a clutch three-pointer in overtime. Among the thousands of fans who showed their love for the youngster under the reel, former Cavaliers star Tristan Thompson also gave his reaction. LeBron James’ title-winning teammate shared a couple of emojis under the reel, which has gone viral on the social media platform.
LeBron’s rival and Gilgeous-Alexander stole the show from USA
The USA came into the bronze medal match after a heartbreaking loss to Germany in the dying moments. Canada capitalized and secured the bronze with a stellar 127-118 win. SGA recorded 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. Dillon Brooks, who had a scuffle with LeBron during the NBA playoffs, led the scoring with 39 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.
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Both Brooks and SGA have had a good tournament. While the NBA All-Star’s great performances weren’t unexpected, Brooks definitely came to prove a point. The Houston Rockets star averaged 15.1 points and 2.6 assists. Moreover, he had a decent tournament on the defensive end as well.
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What are your thoughts on the FIBA World Cup this year? Let us know in the comments below.
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