Only 13 years of independence and no indoor basketball court, and South Sudan still came close to pulling off a historic upset. Two-time Olympic gold medalist LeBron James, who turned the game around with just six seconds on the clock, praised the close game, saying, “I like those better than the blowouts.” Sudan’s Wenyen Gabriel and head coach Royal Ivey echoed this sentiment in a heartfelt video where they shared their thoughts on the game. Boston Celtics legend Kendrick Perkins also chimed in, showing his support for South Sudan’s inspiring journey.

In the video shared by SportsCenter, former Los Angeles Lakers player Wenyen Gabriel spoke about the significance of their journey and the immense pride they feel representing their war-torn nation. “I’m just happy we were able to represent our country. A lot of people around the world don’t know what South Sudan was. Today, we were able to represent our country with pride – we put up a good fight and showed them the potential of our country. It was a proud moment for a lot of people…” 

Perkins deeply resonated with their story, commenting on the post, “The true definition of getting it out the MUD 💯🫡,” thus acknowledging the grit and determination of the South Sudanese team. During his interview, Gabriel also shed light on the lack of resources like indoor basketball courts in South Sudan. “We don’t have anything like that,” he remarked. He stressed the fact that their team is made up of refugees who share a strong passion for basketball. “We’re a bunch of refugees that came together for a few weeks, just trying to do our best, playing against the best players in the world.”

Expressing his pride in the South Sudan team’s valiant 100-101 defeat and “the kind of heart, dedication, and respect we showed,” he underscored the remarkable nature of their collective journey. However, the former Lakers star also expanded on the broader impact their success could have on their country. “It’s much bigger than basketball,” he said, pointing out that their efforts bring joy and recognition to their nation. Head coach Royal Ivey echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their recent independence and the incredible resilience of the players.

“This country has only been independent for 13 years. These guys are resilient,” Ivey said. South Sudan basketball’s route to international success has only just begun, with its first FIBA AfroBasket in 2021 and first FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023. Now, the team will be making its first Olympic appearance in Paris this year and be the only African team in attendance. Per Gabriel, “It’s only a matter of time before the next generation of [South Sudanese] players comes up.”

The young team rightly proved its standing when it held USA’s star-studded roster to a 16-point lead at one point in the first half during Saturday’s game. South Sudan was leading 58-44 at half-time and maintained the back and forth to the last second. With 20 seconds on the clock, Wenyen Gabriel & Co. were in the lead 100-99, thanks to J.T. Thor’s 3-pointer. But as LeBron James landed his shot, 8 seconds remaining, South Sudan wasn’t able to recover. Carlik Jones missed on a jumper, and Gabriel, two put-backs to find themselves just short of a historic feat.

Despite Team USA maintaining their winning streak in the exhibition games, Steve Kerr’s ‘Dream Team,’ on the other hand, is facing significant criticism from the NBA community, with some players underperforming on the grandest stage.

Kendrick Perkins critiques Joel Embiid’s role in Team USA’s lineup

Before the game against South Sudan, Perkins expressed doubts about seven-time All-Star Joel Embiid’s performance for Team USA in an episode of NBA Today, where he proposed that Steve Kerr should use Anthony Davis instead of Embiid. Perkins also pointed out that Embiid seemed to be struggling with his fitness.

“He looks out of shape,” Perkins noted. Nonetheless, in the game against South Sudan, Embiid delivered a remarkable performance, scoring 14 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists, making him the third-highest scorer behind LeBron James and AD. However, adding to the critique, another NBA legend, Gilbert Arenas, lambasted Team USA’s performance, branding them as a “standard team.” The three-time NBA All-Star also criticized Steve Kerr for not utilizing Anthony Davis more effectively instead of Embiid.

In contrast, Steve Kerr has emphasized his focus on building a cohesive team with strong synergy. However, after the game against South Sudan, Kerr conceded that his preparations fell short. “I did not do a great job preparing,” Kerr admitted, highlighting ongoing challenges in optimizing Team USA’s lineup. Anthony Davis mentioned how the team was stuck in London traffic on the way to the game because of which their preparations were but short. Do you think that could’ve played a role in Team USA’s performance, or was South Sudan just that good? We’ll likely find out on July 31 during group play.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection Silas Demary Jr.