r/nba • u/gridironk • Aug 10 '26

Highlight [Highlight] 2 years ago Chef Curry with the chef’s kiss over the double team to give Team USA the gold medal!

https://streamable.com/oppxxk
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u/Cudi_buddy Kings Aug 10 '26

People doomsday this, but I swear since I have been watching USA at the Olympics since 08', people always think we are on the brink of falling off. There is so much American talent constantly entering the NBA, in 2 years some of these guys from recent drafts may be breakout stars for instance.

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u/parkwayy Timberwolves Aug 10 '26

I think the only possible downside is a decent chunk of that talent isn't USA

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u/champion_dave Raptors Aug 10 '26

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. The USA will continue to dominate basketball forever. Wemby will give France a chance, but it would only happen with an epic collapse from USA.

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u/Redditor_exe Aug 11 '26

More of the top guys aren’t American, but the USA’s bench is far better than almost every other team, that’s where the real advantage comes in

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u/parkwayy Timberwolves Aug 10 '26

I think the only possible downside is a decent chunk of that talent isn't USA

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u/Cudi_buddy Kings Aug 10 '26

The ratio is still heavily skewed US. if it isn’t from the US, it is split between a lot of countries. Canada, France, Australia, etc.

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u/Spyk124 Knicks Aug 10 '26

Tatum, Brown, Booker, Edward’s, Cade, Brunson, Maxey, Bam, Towns, Flag, etc etc.

Yeah we won’t have super super star power and other teams might have one super star but overall we are still better on paper.

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u/Cute_Establishment39 Nuggets Aug 10 '26

Towns represents Dominican Republic though

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u/InfiniteHooping Aug 10 '26

While there is truth to this, the situation is different now than it has been in the past. Yes, we still have the most talent, but the actual best players in the world are all international. This was never the case in 08, 12, 16, etc. Back then the top 3 players in the league were always American, so domination came easier. Additionally international players are just so much better than they used to be across the board. This only increases every year. Also factor in the potency of the three point shot and the fact that any team can get red hot from 3 at any given point. All it's gonna take is a dominant game from Wemby or Jokic with a hot shooting performance from their surrounding cast and France or Serbia could knock us out just like that. Our gold medal is going to be way less guaranteed going forward. USA is always going to be really good, but if we can't consistently get gold going forward than that would mean we "fell off" given our history and expectations.

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u/Cudi_buddy Kings Aug 10 '26

I still don’t see this being an issue for some time. I look at the supporting cast for Wemby and Jokic and it’s dire, especially with some of those French supporting cast also getting older. America still pumps a ton of very good players into the nba every year. For France to beat us right now it feels like everything has to go just right for them. It can def happen, but against an A team from America, we still have incredible depth down the whole bench.