Team USA is the firm favorite to win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but just winning the grand event won't impress Shaquille O'Neal . On The Big Podcast With Shaq , O'Neal was asked what was the minimum amount of points the team should be winning games by and the 52-year-old went with a fairly high number.
“20, if you don't win by 20, I'm not impressed, because just think about it," O'Neal said. “... You got the best players in the world on one team. If they win, they're supposed to win. But if they don't win by 20, people are going to talk about them."
There is no denying that the U.S. has the most talented team at the Olympics. Team USA is expected to win every game for that reason, but I don't think it is reasonable to only be impressed if they win by 20.
While I don't believe the rest of the world has caught up with the U.S., the gap is nowhere near as large as it once was. Almost all the teams in the 2024 Olympics have many current or former NBA players within their ranks, so blowing out everyone in their path would be rather difficult for Team USA.
Also, if I had to list who I believe are the three best players in the world, it would be Nikola Jokic , Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic. Neither of the three plays for Team USA and it's probably the first time in history that that's been the case. The U.S. should still win with their depth of talent, but expecting every game to be lopsided is a bit much.
To Team USA's credit, they have basically blown out the competition in their first two games. They beat Serbia 110-84 and then South Sudan 103-86, although, O'Neal might not have been impressed by that second win, as it wasn't by 20 points.
Team USA will play Puerto Rico in the final group stage game and I expect a fairly comfortable win there as well. Another victory by double digits would also secure the top seed in the knockout bracket.
Related: Carmelo Anthony Says His Team USA Competition Was A Lot Easier Than 2024 Olympics
Shaquille O'Neal's National Team Career
You would think that a player as great as O'Neal would have a long and distinguished career with the national team, but that's not the case. He only ever played in two major tournaments, although he did win both.
O'Neal was in college when he first got consideration to play for Team USA. It appeared he would be the collegiate star to be picked for the 1992 Dream Team, but that spot instead went to Christian Laettner.
O'Neal was understandably disappointed but finally made his Team USA debut at the 1994 FIBA World Championship. He led the team to the gold with an 8-0 record at the tournament and was named MVP.
O'Neal then made his Olympic debut in 1996, and as was the case two years earlier, Team USA went 8-0 and won the gold. The big man wasn't a happy camper, though. O'Neal claimed he threw away his gold medal because he lost his playing time in the final to David Robinson and that would be that for his national team career.
O'Neal passed up on the chance to play in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. He also refused to play in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and declined an invitation to be part of the 2006–2008 US preliminary roster.
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