The United States has consistently been the greatest country in the world when it comes to basketball, and it has often proven just that during international play, whether it has been the Olympics or the FIBA World Cup.
Ever since NBA players were first allowed to participate in the 1992 Olympics, the squad has won the gold medal in seven out of eight summer Olympic competitions. However, it has had less success during the World Cup, as it has taken home the gold just three times in the last 30 years.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is trying to do something about that by playing for Team USA while it gears up for this year’s World Cup.
He was asked which four retired Team USA players he would put alongside him in his ultimate starting five, and along with Michael Jordan, he named three Lakers: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James.
Austin Reaves reveals his dream all-time USA starting five 🤩#FIBAWC x #WinForUSA 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/EaM5n0Sdfu
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 16, 2023
Bryant helped Team USA recover from a disastrous third-place finish in the 2004 Olympics and led it to gold medals in 2008 and 2012 along with James. O’Neal, meanwhile, won the gold in the 1996 Olympics.
