Team USA finished fourth in the recently concluded FIBA World Cup. The team comprised NBA stars such as Anthony Edwards, Brandon Ingram, Mikal Bridges, and many other star-caliber players. But, despite the star power, Team USA failed to deliver at the tournament. We can say that it was a first-string squad, but still, their roster was the best in the tournament.

Austin Reaves was one player that represented Team USA at the World Cup. And he stated a very peculiar reason for Team USA’s disastrous performance at the World Cup.

Time Difference a Major Cause

After a poor showing at the FIBA World Cup, Team USA’s Austin Reaves suggested that the time difference played a major role in their poor performances at the World Cup. The tournament was hosted in Manilla, Philippines, and Manilla has a twelve-hour time difference from the USA. Reaves has a YouTube channel by the name of Hillbilly Bogey and on the channel he talked about Team USA’s World Cup journey.

He said, “It was a Great experience, obviously the time difference is crazy and you know sleep schedules are messed up. But it was a great opportunity for me to do something that I’ve always dreamed of doing”.

Austin Reaves was an outlier on the team because the team consisted of star players and Reaves isn’t considered as a star. But they selected Reaves on the basis of merit. He was the surprise of the season and helped LeBron and the Lakers to a Western Conference final berth, where they lost to the Nuggets. Reaves was one of the better players at the FIBA World Cup. he averaged 13.8 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game at the World Cup.

LeBron and Team USA on a Mission

After the dismal showing at the World Cup by the USA, LeBron James has shown an interest in representing Team USA at the Paris Olympics. LeBron James is actively recruiting NBA superstars such as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum. LeBron is trying to build ‘redeem team 2.0’ to reinstate USA’s dominance at the world stage. But it is easier said than done.

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Basketball has evolved and many countries are producing talents comparable to the USA. Unlike previous instances, the gold medal at the Olympics won’t be a foregone conclusion. Teams such as Serbia, Germany, Slovenia, and France are all in the running for the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Can Team USA redeem itself? Let us know in the comments below!

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