USA National Team

[Kings]

Champion

[Basketakias]

Helloooooo, any update about Durant's injury? Will he play against Serbia?

[Darrell Armstrong]

Just because the country is poor doesn't mean South Sudan doesn't have good players or access to decent training facilities. That's a rather arrogant statement given that South Sudan plays competitive basketball, more so than Angola, who for years dominated African basketball.

Is it arrogant to state the facts? South Sudan has a working basketball federation thanks to Luol Deng, who's poured himself towards this life goal. Most of the Sudanese players were born or raised outside the country, and yes, they're good players. That has nothing to do with the ability of assembling a squad, finding coaches and technical staff and funding all the travels, stays and expenses. South Sudan has way less resources than most of the other federations. Pointing that isn't arrogant, actually the other way round! They overachieved way above expectations.

I suggest you ask around to anyone with a minimal basketball knowledge to name an African squad which can play against a team with 12 NBA stars and make it competitive. I doubt anyone can make a reasonable case for one. That's how huge this almost upset was!

[Federoy]

You know the refs bailed you out when even NBA.com admits It:

One missed shot, followed by another even closer — Anthony Edwards might’ve gotten away with an arm grab — caused great hopes to become dashed

I never thought I would see the day a team choke full with Hall-of-Famers would require assistance from game officials to barely beat a squad from a country so poor they have no indoor facilities.

Just because the country is poor doesn't mean South Sudan doesn't have good players or access to decent training facilities. That's a rather arrogant statement given that South Sudan plays competitive basketball, more so than Angola, who for years dominated African basketball.

[Darrell Armstrong]

You know the refs bailed you out when even NBA.com admits It:

One missed shot, followed by another even closer — Anthony Edwards might’ve gotten away with an arm grab — caused great hopes to become dashed

I never thought I would see the day a team choke full with Hall-of-Famers would require assistance from game officials to barely beat a squad from a country so poor they have no indoor facilities.

[Kings]

Behind the leadership of LeBron James, the USA Basketball Men’s National Team erased a 16-point second-quarter deficit thanks to a 16-0 run to close the third quarter. But it took a James driving layup with 8 seconds left for the world’s top-ranked team to survive a tremendous performance from South Sudan. The U.S. escaped with a 101-100 victory Saturday over the world’s 33rd-ranked team in the USA Basketball Showcase at London’s O2 Arena in the next-to-last exhibition game before the 2024 Paris Olympics begin next weekend.

[Darrell Armstrong]

If Lithuania earns a berth in Puerto Rico, this group will be full of revenge matches for Team USA.

[Kings]

Roster

4 Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
5 Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
6 LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
7 Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
8 Derrick White (Boston Celtics)
9 Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
10 Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
11 Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
12 Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)
13 Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
14 Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
15 Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)


Friendly Games

10/07 USA 86 Canada 72
15/07 USA 98 Australia 92
17/07 USA 105 Serbia 79
20/07 USA 101 South Sudan 100
22/07 USA 92 Germany 88


Olympic Games

28/07 USA 110 Serbia 84
31/07 USA 103 South Sudan 86
03/08 USA 104 Puerto Rico 83
06/08 USA 122 Brazil 87
08/08 USA 95 Serbia 91
10/08 USA 98 France 87