Steve Kerr gives STUNNING excuse for team USA’s embarrassing loss to Germany in FIBA World Cup semi

Head Coach Steve Kerr offers an explanation for Team USA's loss.

Steve Kerr gives STUNNING excuse for team USA’s embarrassing loss to Germany in FIBA World Cup semi

Steve Kerr (Credits: ESPN)

Team USA suffered a shocking upset at the FIBA World Cup, losing in the semi-finals to Germany. They were considered heavy favorites going into the tournament. The team even managed to win all seven of their tune-up games, as everyone looked forward to a dominant run as per usual. The team boasted all-NBA level talent, with the likes of DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr., All-Star Anthony Edwards, and various other big names. The coaching staff was also stellar, with Steve Kerr occupying the head coach position and Erik Spoelstra and Ty Lue in assistant coach positions.

The USA were expected to be dominant throughout the tournament, a standard they managed to live up to, winning all of their group stage matches besides a loss to Lithuania. The USA has always been held in high regard in the basketball world, as it is home to the NBA, which consists of the best players in the world, so one would expect their home-grown talent to be other-worldly when compared to other nations. Edwards and Austin Reaves had breakout seasons coming into the World Cup and continued their run, assisting their team through victory after victory. Edwards put up a humongous 34 points against Germany in their exhibition game.

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They defeated Italy comfortably in the quarterfinals and faced Germany in the semifinals. Edwards scored a team-high 23 points, with Reaves dropping 21. The team was lackluster defensively, which resulted in an upset loss. Andreas Obst was instrumental in Germany’s victory, scoring a game-high 24 points. His teammate Franz Wagner dropped 22 points to help secure the victory. Germany won the close game 113-111. Germany is now the last unbeaten team left in the tournament and will go up against Serbia for a chance at the gold medal. Team USA will now face Canada in the bronze medal game.

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Many fans alleged that the loss was due to the “C team” playing in the tournament, with US-born superstars like Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard opting out of the roster. Whereas some analysts suggest that the world has caught up to the US in terms of developing stars with solid fundamentals in basketball, the sport now has a much wider reach. Kerr commented on their loss, stating, “These games are difficult. This is not 1992 anymore. Players are better all over the world, teams are better, and it’s not easy to win a world cup or an Olympic game.

Also read: “Bunch of losers” – NBA fans slam Dillon Brooks and team Canada for behavior after EMBARRASSING loss to Nikola Jokic-less Serbia in World Cup

How has Team USA faired in previous FIBA World Cups?

via Olympics.com

With Team USA’s massive upset against Germany in the FIBA semi-finals, it seems fit to look back at the team’s history in previous iterations of the tournament. Back in the day, Team USA had a chokehold on international basketball, winning with ease, but it seems like the rest of the world has finally caught up to them.

Since 1950, Team USA has claimed a total of five gold medals at the FIBA World Cup. Only their second time entering the contest, they achieved their first victory in 1954. It was going to be some time until the USA won gold again after that. Before earning gold in 1986, they finished in second place in 1982. The USA won gold again in 1994, being called the second coming on the “Dream Team,” with Shaquille O’Neal and Reggie Miller leading the fray.

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Team USA is tied for the most gold medals in the FIBA World Cup alongside Serbia, winning a total of five. Serbia may be able to dethrone the USA, as they are headed to the 2023 finals to face off against Germany, the nation that eliminated the USA in the semis.

Team USA’s last victories came back-to-back in 2010 and 2014, with superstars filling the roster from the likes of Steph Curry to Russell Westbrook. Comparatively, the 2023 roster has failed to achieve the same level of glory and will now be fighting against Canada to take home the bronze medal.

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