In a World Cup tune-up game that showcased their prowess, the USA men’s national basketball team secured an impressive victory against Greece, maintaining their unbeaten record as they inch closer to the highly anticipated FIBA Basketball World Cup. The game was characterized by a blazing start that set the tone for the American team’s dominant performance throughout the match.
Led by standout performances from Anthony Edwards and Cam Johnson, Team USA never relinquished their lead in the contest, demonstrating their cohesive gameplay and determination to emerge victorious. Edwards, who tallied an impressive 21 points, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s rhythm, stating, “I feel like we got it going pretty good.”
The U.S. team exhibited remarkable depth and versatility, with all 12 players contributing to the scoreboard. Key contributions came from Austin Reaves and Jaren Jackson Jr., both of whom added 11 points to the tally. Mikal Bridges and Bobby Portis also made significant impacts, each finishing the game with 10 points.
Greece, despite missing their star player Giannis Antetokounmpo due to his recovery from offseason knee surgery, put up a valiant effort. Panagiotis Kalaitzakis and Nikos Rogkavopoulos led the Greek team with 12 points each, while Thomas Walkup and Georgios Papagiannis added 11 points apiece. Walkup highlighted the significance of these exhibition games as valuable opportunities for improvement, stating, “These games, these friendlies, they’re glorified practices. That’s what they are. Of course you want to win, but we want to come out here to compete, get better, fix things.”
As the U.S. team gears up for the World Cup, Greece stands out as a formidable opponent, even without Antetokounmpo. The FIBA rankings place Greece at No. 9, positioning them as a major contender in the competition. New Zealand and Jordan, ranked 26th and 33rd respectively, will also be part of the challenging Group C, which promises an intense battle for the top spots.
The victory against Greece further solidified Team USA’s dominance, a trait they’ve displayed consistently in their exhibition games leading up to the World Cup. Their skillful gameplay and strategic approach have enabled them to command the court and secure double-digit leads early in matches. This trend continued against Greece, with the U.S. team establishing a significant lead by the end of the first quarter.
However, U.S. coach Steve Kerr remains watchful of areas that could pose challenges in the upcoming competition. Kerr emphasized the importance of maintaining possession and addressing turnovers and rebounds, stating, “The concern is turnovers and rebounds. If we stay even on the possession game, I feel great about our chances against anybody.”
Despite the commanding performance, the U.S. team acknowledged that there’s room for improvement. A more competitive second half saw Greece narrowing the scoring gap, partly due to the U.S. team’s turnovers. As Thomas Walkup noted, “They let up a little bit, for sure. We’re aware of that. We’re not tricking ourselves.”
Coach Kerr’s decision to maintain a consistent starting lineup has provided stability and continuity for the team, fostering cohesion among players who are relatively new to the senior national team and FIBA rules. This strategy proved successful as the team settled into patterns and showcased effective teamwork on the court.