Through the Dream Staff period of Staff USA, with superstars and NBA icons like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Hen main the way in which, the star-studded American squad would crush the competitors on the worldwide degree, and on the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, it cruised to a gold medal.
Again then, whereas Jordan and firm had been competing in opposition to the world’s greatest basketball gamers in Spain, Staff USA was blowing out groups by a median of just about 44 factors, an insane margin of victory to maintain up over the course of a event.
Sadly for america, the remainder of the world has caught up by way of talent and prowess on the basketball court docket, and a few of the greatest and brightest gamers within the NBA in the present day hail from abroad, like Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic.
With the hole closing in on the People, former NBA celebrity Shaquille O’Neal lately mentioned that he received’t be impressed by U.S. victories until they’re blowouts.
“If you don’t win by 20, I’m not impressed,” O’Neal mentioned, by way of “The Big Podcast.”. “… You got the best players in the world on one team. If they win, they’re supposed to win. But if they don’t win by 20, people are gonna talk about ’em.”
“If you don’t win by 20 I’m not impressed.”
– Shaq on Staff USA 😳
Watch the complete episode right here: https://t.co/HpE4j4EDhf pic.twitter.com/FsIpyv8VoH
— The Massive Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) August 2, 2024
In its first recreation of the 2024 Paris Olympics, in opposition to Serbia, Staff USA received by 16, 100-84, which isn’t all that unhealthy, however Jokic’s squad by no means appeared to have a lot of an opportunity.
Within the second recreation that counted for the People, LeBron James and firm had a rematch with South Sudan, who misplaced by just one level within the closing seconds of the groups’ exhibition matchup.
Staff USA avenged that shut recreation by profitable by 19, 103-84, however nonetheless beneath O’Neal’s threshold.
The People get one other likelihood at a blowout in opposition to Puerto Rico in group play earlier than shifting on to the more durable elimination rounds.
