The United States basketball team has once again prevailed at the Olympics, which is to be expected given the immense amount of talent on the team. Team USA was headlined by superstar Kevin Durant, but there were solid players who played for the team at every position.
Despite the skill level of the United States, there were many who doubted their ability to prevail in this year’s Tokyo Olympics. The concern for the team started when Team USA lost some exhibition games to Nigeria and Australia, as well as their first Olympics game against France, the same team they just beat in the gold medal game. Some claimed that the rest of the world was catching up to the United States in terms of talent, and some even went as far as saying the NBA has become too “soft” for its players to compete in FIBA competitions.
However, the doubters were clearly wrong. Team USA has won its 4th straight Olympic gold medal in basketball, behind an elite Kevin Durant performance. DPOY candidate Draymond Green took to social media to criticize the doubters on Twitter asking Twitter account “Freezing Cold Takes” to find some of the most egregious takes on Team USA.
Yooo @OldTakesExposed we need to see everybody who said we couldn’t do it!! 👀👀👀
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) August 7, 2021
There he is!!!! https://t.co/21qkcaxtxm
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) August 7, 2021
Stop talking out the side of your neck!! https://t.co/haEIVQiy2G
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) August 7, 2021
Dummy!!! https://t.co/0LNrRI3jjy
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) August 7, 2021
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Oh Colin https://t.co/eWkmHON7cW
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) August 7, 2021
Spoke too soon! https://t.co/A2vbzr4mP7
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) August 7, 2021
Oh God! Anyone doing this job held accountable anymore? https://t.co/ohOERle2En
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) August 7, 2021
You don’t say! https://t.co/x5C46cocgV
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) August 7, 2021
There is no doubt that these takes aged incredibly poorly as Team USA reeled in the gold once again. Notably, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins was on one of those Tweets, suggesting that he’s glad that people wouldn’t have to “deal with Greg Pop no more” after these Olympics. Kendrick Perkins offered a response to Draymond Green and others critiquing his takes and stated that he calls it as he sees it, while also offering congratulations to the team.
If I’m the first name that gets mentioned after a monumental moment like winning gold, I welcome it!!!
I call it like I see it and Team USA heard me loud and clear and responded. Love or hate, I’m here. Get used to it! Congrats to Team USA and carry the hell on 🏅🏅🏅
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) August 7, 2021
There is no question that a lot of Team USA doubters were proven wrong. While this version of Team USA may have not blown out every squad like the teams of the past, they still achieved the goal of bringing back the gold, which is what matters in the end.
