NBA Stars Humiliate America During International Olympic Exhibition
Well the United States of America mens basketball team loaded with NBA players, many who engaged in activism were humiliated during an exhibition game.
The USA “dream team” has been loaded with NBA stars (not average players) since 1992 however Nigeria was able to beat them 90-87.
“We just wanted to compete,” said Nigeria’s Gabe Nnamdi, who goes by Gabe Vincent when playing for the Miami Heat. “We know what USA Basketball means around the world and what they’ve stood for for so long.”
The USA has only lost 11 games since 1992 and they had never lost to a team from Africa.
“I thought that the Nigerian team played very physically, did a great job in that regard and knocked down a lot of 3s,” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said. “Give them credit.”
America has gone 39-0 in the three Olympic season – including exhibitions – earned two gold medals. The last two times the USA played Nigeria it was by a combined 127 points.
In 2012, Nigeria lost to the USA during the London Olympics by 83 points and four years later in 2016 lost in an exhibition by 44 points.
“Nigeria’s come a long way with their basketball,” USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said.
The Nigerian team was made up of players that played in college inside the USA and some who are second or third string in the NBA.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t mean much in the standings as far as where we’re trying to get to,” Brown said. “But it’s a good win for us. I don’t think any African team has been able to beat USA Basketball in an exhibition game or a real game. … We’re trying to get a little bit of momentum for Nigeria and for the continent of Africa.”
A team of former NCAA players and backup players was able to beat a team of NBA superstars.
The team has already faced some controversy when ESPN host Jalen Rose called NBA star Kevin Love a token white guy.
“Kevin Love is on the team because of tokenism,” Rose said on his ESPN show Jalen and Jacoby. “Don’t be scared to make an all-Black team representing the United States of America. I’m disappointed by that. Anybody that watched the league this year knows Kevin Love did not have a stellar season, was not the best player on his team and did not necessarily deserve to be on this squad.”
