Team USA disappointed at the World Cup in China after finishing in the 7th place. It is their worst result since they joined FIBA in 1934. The Americans did beat Poland, 87-74, in the battle for the 7th spot, and soon after the game, head coach Gregg Popovich addressed the media and called out the critics.
“Some people want to play the blame game. There’s no blame to be placed anywhere,” Popovich said. “They want to play the shame game, like we should be ashamed because we didn’t win a gold medal? That’s a ridiculous attitude. It’s immature, it’s arrogant, and it shows that whoever thinks that doesn’t respect all the other teams in the world and doesn’t respect that these guys did the best they could.”
Coach Gregg Popovich calls team USA criticism “immature” and “arrogant.” https://t.co/CON8Wk7zHJ pic.twitter.com/okOevcNJJb
— Complex (@Complex) September 14, 2019
Popovich had just nine players at his disposal as Kemba Walker was sidelined with a neck injury. Walker’s new teammates Marcus Smart (leg) and Jayson Tatum (ankle) also didn’t play.
Problems for Team USA started earlier in the summer when 31 of 35 players who were part of the side last year declined an invitation to join or withdrew from the squad. From 2018 team, when Popovich took over as head coach, only Walker, Khris Middleton, Harrison Barnes, and Myles Turner left to represent America at WC in china.
“Their effort was fantastic. They allowed us to coach them,” Popovich said of his team. “You give people credit for what they did, and that’s it. But it’s not a blame and shame game. That’s ridiculous.”
The players will return home and focus on preparing for the upcoming NBA season. There is no doubt the team will be looking a lot different for the 2020 Olympics in Japan. However, coach Popovich didn’t want to talk about it.
“This isn’t really the time to even think about that,” Popovich said of the Olympics. “It’s 10 months away.”
H/T: ESPN