The Team USA basketball squad fell to a Select Team of NBA veterans and role players this week in a set of scrimmages.
Given that this particular incarnation of Team USA lacks some of the star power that past squads have possessed, many have taken to criticizing the group.
Although Brnadon Ingram, Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson are obviously nothing to sneeze at, they also aren’t exactly Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
This week, after seeing how much criticism Team USA was getting for their performance against the Select Team, Kyrie Irving took to social media to respond.
“It happens,” he tweeted. “It’s part of the game when everybody is trying to find a role and earn playing time.
“You gotta give the guys on the World Cup team time to gel and get to know each other’s game. Don’t overreach with this post.”
While Irving’s point was a saliant one, reactions to it were mixed.
Is the USA select team also doing the same? If so, is it even in this regard?
— Ry Kincade (@rykincade) August 4, 2023
THANK YOU KAI 🐐
— PaoloLegacy (@PaoloLegacy) August 4, 2023
People think team chemistry is built overnight lol, bunch of casuals ridiculing them already
— arj (@hooparj) August 4, 2023
They was out their shooting like: pic.twitter.com/UIijGYh9JZ
— VANDO 40% 3PT / MAX CHRISTIE 28 PPG 5 STEALS (@vandocorner3) August 4, 2023
Big picture, these are the dog days of the NBA offseason.
Literally nothing is happening. The most notable stories around are Kawhi Leonard and his girl going viral at a baseball game and D’Angelo Russell explaining the difference between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
That’s the only reason why this result of a random scrimmage between Team USA and the Select Team matters.
Olivia Dunne and her sister did NYC right. https://t.co/pIZ8LaiCut
— Game 7 (@game7__) August 5, 2023
Even the Dream Team lost to the Select Team once. It’s not that big of a deal.
Will Irving’s statement on the matter ultimately ease some of the pressure on Team USA? Time will tell.
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