- NBA legend asks the fans why the USA is losing ground in the basketball scene
- Kevin Garnett suggests that the game has gone completely international
- NBA fans debate the fall of USA Basketball
Team USA did not bring their “A” team to the World Cup this year, but most fans were still confident that the US would pull through and find a way to take home a medal. As we now know, they failed to even bring home the bronze and it has left Americans with more questions than answers on their place in international basketball.
On Twitter/x this Sunday, NBA legend Kevin Garnett raised some interesting points regarding the spread of talent worldwide. “MVP… international player, NBA champs internationally led… Team USA not medalling,” Garnett wrote. “What’s to it?”
MVP… international player, NBA champs internationally led… Team USA not medalling..
What’s to it 🤔
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) September 10, 2023
For most of history, the USA has dominated basketball across the world and it was decades before other countries finally caught up. But now, things are trending the other way very quickly, and an interestingly large chunk of the game’s best players aren’t even American-born.
In the 2022-23 season, for example, Serbian native Nikola Jokic won the MVP, and Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t too far behind with a third-place ranking in the votes. Combine that fact with Team USA’s 4th place finish in FIBA this year, and it’s easy to validate some of the concerns that people are having about the future of USA Basketball.
Fans Speculate On The Cause For Team USA’s Dropoff
Obviously, nobody knows for sure where things went wrong for the US this year, but it didn’t stop fans from coming up with a number of theories. In responding to Garnett’s post, some fans suggested creating a long-term national team while others pointed to the disappearance of fear and respect for Team USA.
The U.S. needs to create a national team that is committed for a long time. The days of just throwing 12 together should be over. It's not fair to the players or to the country. You could probably do it with non-NBA players. The is a lot of talent that are not on NBA rosters.
— brucegelin (@brucegelin) September 10, 2023
The World has caught up, plus they don’t fear the US or lay down no more. A large portion of our current Top 10 players are foreign born Lol
— Draymond Jean (@YoungReela) September 10, 2023
NBA isn't a one nation sport anymore lol
— Ramin.eth.ada.wtf (@Ramin_delgato) September 10, 2023
Of course, for others, the problem is actually very fixable. Next time, if Team USA can just recruit the best players available, it could put them back on top of the world stage.
Best players in the league didn’t go. This is the next gen of stars but they’re still green when it comes to winning big as a pro.
— M.Ible Enterprises (Mik †) (@mikhaele_ible) September 10, 2023
No matter your opinion on the state of USA Basketball, it’s clear that times have changed for the sport. Countries around the world have mastered the game now, and they are sending their best and brightest to show the world what they can do.
Basketball Is A Global Game Now
The US enjoyed a monopoly on the sport for decades, and it was fun to watch some of the game’s best players just completely decimate the field. Those days are over now, and the game itself has long outgrown the Western World.
Thanks to the globalization of the game, and the rise of young athletes around the world, nations like Serbia, Germany, and even Canada have been able to find success in the sport and master the skills on their own.
If the USA doesn’t catch up soon, or at least convince the elites to suit up for the Olympics, they may never be able to make up lost ground.
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