Team USA Basketball has been dominant and controlling throughout the 2023 FIBA World Cup World Showcase, catapulting them to an undefeated record (5-0). 

Team USA has defeated Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Spain, Germany, and Greece throughout the World Showcase. Four of these teams are seeded as top 10 teams in the tournament, and two out of the four are considered top 3 teams, according to FIBA’s official website.  

Although Team USA was a favorite to win due to their offensive firepower, few expected the team’s defensive presence.  In their comeback win in the second half against Germany on August 20, 2023, led by rising star Anthony Edwards (of the Minnesota Timberwolves), Team USA put up 22 points in 14 minutes while holding Germany to only 5 points, completely erasing a 16-point deficit.

In this high-intensity game between the two top seeds, Edwards rose above all and scored 34 points (a third of the whole team’s point total) while shooting above 50% from the field and still being a presence on defense.

After the game, the NBA’s Official Twitter highlighted his performance in a single tweet: “Anthony Edwards, Absolute Showman.”

 

In addition to Edwards, other stars, such as Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers), and Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), have been playing exceptionally well.

For instance, Tyrese Haliburton has been the team’s leading assistman throughout the tournament despite not being a starter on the squad. In addition, Haliburton has also had a significant contribution to scoring, putting up 9 points per game on an efficient 57% from the field. 

Likewise, Austin Reaves has provided a spark off the bench. Many experts consider Reaves Team USA’s biggest surprise. Reaves is shooting an extremely efficient 61% from the field and 57% from three. Additionally, the Lakers’ star has been the best scorer on Team USA, averaging 11.4 points per game while only averaging 11 minutes per game.

In fact, even Lakers’ teammate LeBron James has been promoting Reaves’s impressive performance. James tweeted, “A-R you so cold man!!” after Team USA’s dominant vs. Puerto Rico.

Furthermore, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr., Team USA’s starting center, has been a force on defense. Jackson Jr. averaged 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks in only 11 minutes per game. Jackson Jr. has also helped on offense, averaging 9.2 points per game throughout the Showcase.

Team USA is the youngest team in the entire World Cup, with an average age of 24.4, and has no play older than 28 on the squad. Although this might scare some because of the lack of experience, they are coached by Steve Kerr, Tyronn Lue, and Erik Spoelstra, all of which are Finals-Winning head coaches.

On a local note, New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram has performed well. He is a starter on Team USA and has been contributing in various ways, including clearly stepping up as a defender.

As of this writing, the FIBA World Cup is currently in Stage One, so there is still time to catch up. NBA and Pelicans’ fans can watch the American stars, including the Pelicans’ own Brandon Ingram, play on Direct TV Stream until September 10, 2023, when the tournament ends. 

The NBA regular season begins October 24, 2023.