THIS ISN'T 1992 ANYMORE
Is the most truthful reality that anyone has said so far when it comes to the status of Team USA.
And since then, there's been a flurry of news reports stating that LeBron James has recruited Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis and others to join them in the redemption tour of Team USA.
The media is abuzz. Fans are excited. The basketball world sees this similar to Captain America uttering the words "Avengers, ASSEMBLE."
Every basketball loving fanatic must be right in their feels now imagining the line-up that takes the court in Paris.
BUT THIS ISN'T 1992.
So Team USA has the world in chaos and excitement with LeBron James's statements and? WHAT? The whole world is supposed to accept defeat? That they're potentially going to be beat by 50 or 70 per game? That every opponent that comes Team USA's way will just roll over and die?
NO. This isn't 1992. And even when they re-created the 1992 Dream Team via the Redeem Team in 2008 and 2012, the results weren't as similar. The highlights, maybe, but the results? FAR FROM IT.
Keep in mind, the top 3 finishers in this year's FIBA World Cup have more in their arsenal too.
Germany was without Maxi Kleiber and Isaiah Hartenstein - two players who add height, outside shooting and defense to the FIBA World Cup champs. A problem for the USA? The center position.
Serbia practically sent their C team also - they were without 2-time League MVP Nikola Jokic, Boban Marjonovic, Vasilie Mijijc and Aleksey Pokusevksi. All long, big and skilled basketball players. Nikola Jokic should be enough to convince you that this wasn't Serbia's best yet they finished silver in this World Cup.
Canada has another level with Andrew Wiggins, Jamal Murray, Brandon Clarke, Cris Duarte, Cory Joseph, and a host of others capable of making the Canadians a hard-core gold medal contender.
Keep in mind, we're only talking about the pieces who are in the NBA. Don't think for one second that the pieces for these teams who play in the Euro League can't hoop because you would be in for a rude awakening.
So let Team USA form their "Redeem Team". Let them put out all the marketing ads, the commercials, the social media memes and let them broadcast it as loud as they can.
Because when the noise dies down, and they take the court, a harsh reality might start to set in.
Coming into these games LeBron James will be nearing 40.
Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant will be on the wrong side 30 and if you're hopes rest on Anthony Davis? Well.. let's just hope he lasts the whole tournament.
Now don't get it wrong, Team USA will put on a show. That we can be certain of. Those are still legends of the game taking the court. But if there's one thing the FIBA World Cup has shown is that the World has caught up. We've known that for quite some time now.
But now more than ever, the gap is closing - and closing fast.
So when the Paris Olympics arrive in 2024, let Team USA parade their "Avengers" of a team.
Because when they take the court, and that ball is tipped up? They will realize sooner than later:
THE WORLD no longer FEARS Team USA and 1992? Is a distant memory.
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