While Team USA might be engaging in exhibition games at the moment, they are approaching these matchups with utmost seriousness and intend to show the world that they are the supreme basketball force when they send their best players on the court.
This commitment was put to test in their game against South Sudan at London O2's Arena. The 33rd FIBA-ranked team sent shockwaves to the world when they took a 1-point lead with 20 minutes remaining on the clock against LeBron James & Co.
Though Steve Kerr's team inched past them to secure a win, Paul Pierce found himself compelled to issue an apology to South Sudan for underestimating their caliber of play. Speaking on Undisputed, 'The Truth' acknowledged a paradigm shift in international basketball, where teams are no longer intimidated by the presence of a star-studded American squad.
"First of I'd like to offer an apology to South Sudan for the disrespect that I have given them, not having any knowledge about their team or their country. So, right off the bat, I'd like to apologize," Pierce said. "This showed me the seismic shift of international play."
How did Pierce disrespect South Sudan's team?
Before the game began, the 2008 Finals MVP disparaged the South Sudan team. He not only mocked them for not having any player who could even match the height of an average NBA player — completely disregarding the fact that Manute Bol, the NBA's tallest player, was from South Sudan — but also implied that the game would be a cakewalk for Team USA as South Sudan had no presence on the basketball map.
"Man, they probably haven't got anyone over 6'3"," Pierce said. "Now we've got South Sudan; they should've just put Lithuania in."
Contrary to such expectations, the game provided a harsh reality check for Kerr's players. While Carlin Jones dropped a remarkable triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, Mariyal Shayok led the opposing team with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field.
It's safe to say that such exhibition games could prove beneficial for Team USA, as they would help them realize how tough it would be for them to win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics this time around.
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Team USA had another scare
For those who believe that South Sudan's game could be an exception, Team USA suffered yet another scare against Germany on Monday night.
The reigning world champions held a 1-point lead going into the final four minutes of the last quarter. Once again, if it wasn't for 39-year-old LeBron scoring Team USA's last 11 points to lead them to a 92-88 win, the team's fit and caliber could have come into major questioning.
It's safe to say that while Coach Kerr's team has survived each sacre so far in the exhibition games, will this be the same case in the Olympic Games, or will the tide turn then? Only time will tell. However, one thing seems certain: Their path to a gold medal wouldn't be easy by any means.
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