Team USA has been used to dominating the international scene for most of history. However, not so long ago, the rest of the world gave USA Basketball some tough lessons.
That was the case again in the latest edition of the FIBA World Cup, and while USA Basketball doesn’t seem to take that tournament as seriously as the Olympics, it was still a wake-up call.
With that in mind, St. John’s coach — and former Greece and Panathinaikos coach — Rick Pitino put Americans on notice with his words about the current and future generation of Greek hoopers.
Rick Pitino likes Greece’s chances in Eurobasket
“Yeah, I think anytime you have those guys — Giannis, Kostas Antetokounmpo, Kostas Sloukas, Tyler Dorsey, Kostas Papanikolaou — you’re going to be a threat,” Pitino told Gazzetta. “But I’m more happy about the young. I was worried about who comes after those guys, and after watching tonight, I think we’re in good hands right now.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Quarter Finals of the 5×5 Basketball events of the Paris Olympic Games, between Greece and Germany.
The rest of the world is closing in the gap on the United States at a somewhat alarming rate, and you just have to take a look at the latest MVP winners to realize that.
Team USA will continue to be the team to beat until proven otherwise, but with other countries finding and developing more and more promising stars by the year, that supremacy could be in serious jeopardy.
