It was a day of redemption for U.S. basketball last Sunday, with a young “B-Team” reclaiming gold at the FIBA World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
Team USA’s 81–64 defeat of host country Turkey ended a U.S. three-tournament drought in one of its most dominating sports. Bronze medals were claimed against Argentina in 2006 and Greece in 1998, but the last gold came against Russia in 1994.
This year’s World Championships were particularly meaningful for the U.S. team because no one really expected them to make it all the way with 6 out of the 12 players younger than 22, and without the star power of the 2008 Olympic gold winning team.
But the absence of superstars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Dwight Howard from this year’s team proved to be a blessing in disguise—the making of a new American hero in Kevin Durant.
“I think that was extra motivation,” Durant told the Associated Press. “It was exciting to come out here and win and also to prove people wrong.”
The 21-year-old Oklahoma Thunder forward-guard took charge of Team U.S.A, winning the tournament’s MVP and breaking the U.S. record for most points in a FIBA World Championship game (38) and most U.S. points in the tournament (205).
The NBA scoring champion fell one 3-pointer shy from tying Reggie Miller’s record for most 3-pointers in a game when he drained seven against Turkey, and shot an astounding 91.2 percent from the foul line.
Durant’s 22.8 point average was lifted considerably in the last three games against Russia, Lithuania, and Turkey where he broke loose and scored 33, 38, and 28 points respectively.
“He elevated,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “He was on a pretty high floor already, but he went close to being in the penthouse.”
Durant was backed up in the scoring department by veteran guard Chauncey Billups (9.8 points per game), guard Russel Westbrook (9.1 points per game), guard Eric Gordon (8.6 points per game), point guard Derrick Rose (7.2 points per game), and forward-center Lamar Odom (7.1 points per game).
Odom scored 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the gold medal decider, and led by example on the defensive front throughout the tournament.
“In order to win the championship, we had to be the best defensive team and we were able to do that throughout the tournament,” Odom said.
The FIBA gold automatically qualifies the United States for the 2012 Olympics in London, England, which means a summer off next year.
It’s unclear at this point what that 2012 team is going to look like though with this new breed of champions possibly vying for a spot against NBA’s established gold standard. But one thing’s for sure, Durant is almost guaranteed a spot in 2012.
“That’s a good problem, to choose among a lot of really good players,” said Krzyzewski, who became the first coach in U.S. history to win Olympic and FIBA gold.
Team USA’s 81–64 defeat of host country Turkey ended a U.S. three-tournament drought in one of its most dominating sports. Bronze medals were claimed against Argentina in 2006 and Greece in 1998, but the last gold came against Russia in 1994.
This year’s World Championships were particularly meaningful for the U.S. team because no one really expected them to make it all the way with 6 out of the 12 players younger than 22, and without the star power of the 2008 Olympic gold winning team.
But the absence of superstars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Dwight Howard from this year’s team proved to be a blessing in disguise—the making of a new American hero in Kevin Durant.
“I think that was extra motivation,” Durant told the Associated Press. “It was exciting to come out here and win and also to prove people wrong.”
The 21-year-old Oklahoma Thunder forward-guard took charge of Team U.S.A, winning the tournament’s MVP and breaking the U.S. record for most points in a FIBA World Championship game (38) and most U.S. points in the tournament (205).
The NBA scoring champion fell one 3-pointer shy from tying Reggie Miller’s record for most 3-pointers in a game when he drained seven against Turkey, and shot an astounding 91.2 percent from the foul line.
Durant’s 22.8 point average was lifted considerably in the last three games against Russia, Lithuania, and Turkey where he broke loose and scored 33, 38, and 28 points respectively.
“He elevated,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “He was on a pretty high floor already, but he went close to being in the penthouse.”
Durant was backed up in the scoring department by veteran guard Chauncey Billups (9.8 points per game), guard Russel Westbrook (9.1 points per game), guard Eric Gordon (8.6 points per game), point guard Derrick Rose (7.2 points per game), and forward-center Lamar Odom (7.1 points per game).
Odom scored 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the gold medal decider, and led by example on the defensive front throughout the tournament.
“In order to win the championship, we had to be the best defensive team and we were able to do that throughout the tournament,” Odom said.
The FIBA gold automatically qualifies the United States for the 2012 Olympics in London, England, which means a summer off next year.
It’s unclear at this point what that 2012 team is going to look like though with this new breed of champions possibly vying for a spot against NBA’s established gold standard. But one thing’s for sure, Durant is almost guaranteed a spot in 2012.
“That’s a good problem, to choose among a lot of really good players,” said Krzyzewski, who became the first coach in U.S. history to win Olympic and FIBA gold.
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