It’s understandable why many consider Team USA to be one of the biggest nations when it comes to basketball.
Not only did America invent the sport, but it is the home of the biggest professional basketball league in the world. Having such an infrastructure allows the country to constantly churn out terrific players who would dominate in any league.
However, their dominance in the full-court game doesn’t fully translate to the 3X3 setting. Despite having the likes of Jimmer Fredette headlining the squad, the basketball-crazy nation managed to crash out of the 2024 Games in a spectacularly embarrassing fashion.
The team’s shocking exit from the Paris Games garnered reactions from all over the country. Even the founder of the most prominent 3X3 league in the country had something to say about the team’s performance and the state of the local 3X3 scene.
Ice Cube thinks BIG3 All-Stars can take on future 3×3 gold medalists
The press immediately asked BIG3 founder Ice Cube after Team USA’s embarrassing 21-6 loss to the Netherlands.
“They need our players, without a doubt… the whole world could see that,” the rapper and businessman told Ballislife about Team USA’s performance.
He then gave out a challenge to whoever wins the gold medal in the men’s 3X3 event:
“Whatever country wins the gold medal, you all need to come to Boston. We’re going to pay for your trip to Boston, hotels, get you all a little cash, and see who’s the best in the world.
“We believe our All-Stars will take you down. If you don’t believe it, we’ll see you all in Boston.”
Why did Team USA struggle to win in the 3X3 tournament?
The Americans are always expected to dominate with the game they invented. However, it was clear that the team couldn’t hold a candle against some of the better teams in the game.
Kareem Maddox explains that the lack of support for the 3X3 game is the main culprit for their poor outing, as reported by Yahoo! Sports’ Jay Busbee:
“It’s not visible except for every four years in the United States,” he said. “There’s no professional-level tournaments there. The closest we get is probably Edmonton, Canada … The team we just played has been building and refining that very team for this very moment for seven years now, and we’re just in a little bit of a different situation. Those are all full-time 3×3 guys.”
The BIG3 may not be as big as the other 3X3 leagues in Europe, but it’s a step in the right direction for the game. Whether the league becomes a platform for the game or a FIBA-minded competitor emerges remains to be seen.
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