Team USA has its eyes set on reclaiming the gold in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. The latest iteration of the American national team is composed of young rising stars who are ready to make a name for themselves in international competition.
“I think my expectations coming into the World Cup are the same as they are for the United States, and that’s to win a gold medal,” said Tyrese Haliburton. “I think that’s the expectation when you put on ‘USA’ and when you represent your country, represent the United States. I think that’s how we approach most sports, but especially basketball.”
Paolo Banchero, who is also representing the USA for the first time like Haliburton, echoes the same sentiment when it comes to the expectation of America dominating the world stage.
“I think USA basketball… we win. I think it’s a gold standard that’s been set years and years ago,” Banchero said, mentioning how the 1992 Dream Team set the level of excellence.
“All of us think we’re the best players in the world. We play in the best league in the world and we kind of have that expectation from the rest of the world to be the best,” he went on. “I think we don’t take that lightly. I don’t think anyone on the team does – players and coaches. When you have that expectation you have to carry yourself a certain way.”
Banchero, who plays for the Orlando Magic, and Haliburton, the star of the Indiana Pacers, are two of the 12 players on Team USA gearing up for the World Cup which is set to begin on August 25. The United States has won the quadrennial tournament five times and most recently in 2010 and 2014. In 2019, however, it was Spain who took home the top prize as the Americans failed to reach the podium. The US is currently ranked second to Spain but Haliburton and the rest of the team know that they will come in as the heavy favorites.
“I don’t see it as pressure,” Haliburton said. The 23-year-old guard didn’t experience the dark transition period of the national team in the early 2000s but what he does remember is the glory of the 2008 Redeem Team and the country’s continued success.
“It’s always been the expectation to win gold. I don’t look at it as pressure or anything like that, I just look at it as there’s a standard that needs to be met and I’m tasked to help in that responsibility,” he said.
Team USA is in Group C alongside Jordan, Greece, and New Zealand, which will play in SM Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines. The group phase will be played in Manila, along with fellow host countries Japan and Indonesia. For the final phase of the tournament, including the gold medal game that Team USA is eyeing, it will be played in Manila.
“I’m expecting, I think, just high-level competition – very, very intense basketball,” Banchero said. “I think the fandom is off the chain as well…. I’ve never played basketball in any other country, let alone Europe or the Philippines so just to experience that, experience the crowd, the different fans, and just how excited they will be, and the atmosphere, I’m looking forward to that the most.”
“The Philippines, everyone knows they love basketball there,” he added. “Like I said, I’ve never experienced basketball anywhere else but America so getting a chance to play there, being in front of their fans, their citizens, getting to put on a show in front of them and compete for a gold medal there, I think it’s going to be a once in a lifetime experience. I’m sure it’s going to be a crazy crowd. I’m sure it’s going to be a packed house. I can’t wait to get there.”
Haliburton is equally thrilled to see how the fans will come out in the Philippines, which hasn’t hosted the FIBA World Cup in more than four decades.
“I have a love of the game and I am excited to see it on an international level. And you always hear about the love of the game from Filipino fans so I’m excited to see it firsthand,” Haliburton said. “And I know that there are probably a lot of fans at our games in particular so I'm excited to see that.”
Team USA will have its first game against New Zealand on August 26, followed by Greece on August 28, before finishing the first round of the group phase versus Jordan on August 30.
“We have a team of unselfish players who all want to see each other do well. We all have one common goal and that’s to win a gold medal,” Banchero said. “And I think if all of us are focused on that goal, then the only people who can stop us are ourselves I believe. I think we all have the talent, we have all the tools to win the gold. As long as we stay together, stick together as a group, we’ll be fine.”
