Former NBA star Charles Barkley already proved his dominance by winning gold twice while representing Team USA on the Olympic podium. Now, the player-turned-analyst’s time is to evaluate his successors’ performance in the Paris Olympics as they are vying to bring straight fifth gold for their country. He has given a stern warning to LeBron James and Co. ahead of their quarterfinal game against Brazil.
During his appearance in ‘Podcast P with Paul George,’ the NBA Hall of Famer shared his honest belief and expectations on the team’s star-studded roster.
“You take away Joker [Nikola Jokic], Giannis [Antetokounmpo] and Luka [Doncic]. Those three are all great players. Shai [Gilgeous Alexander] is great also. But we still have the next 10 best players in every game,” Barkley said.
If Team USA men’s basketball misses out on gold in the Olympics, Charles Barkley believes they shouldn’t be allowed back in the country 😭@ATT pic.twitter.com/wfeCDbVpCN
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) August 5, 2024
However, Barkley didn’t hesitate to challenge the team, hilariously stating the consequences of failing to secure gold.
“Listen, if they lose, we can’t let them back in the country,” Barkley jokingly added.
Paul George Sees Canada as a Potential Threat Despite Team USA’s Big Win
The USA kicked off their tune-up games with an impressive 86-72 win against Team Canada. Despite this strong showing, Paul George expressed some concerns about facing Canada in the Paris Olympics’ knockout stage.
“I think they’re probably one of the teams that could give the USA a real shot if they can put it together,” Paul said.
George claimed that Canada’s guard strength is strong. However, he also pointed out that the players are not “big enough” in size.
“Top to bottom, their guard play is great. But they’re not big enough. You look at France. They have the size, but not the guard play. You can’t find teams internationally that can put it all together the way the USA team can. If we’re locked in, there’s no shot at USA losing,” he added.
After securing the No. 1 overall seed with a perfect 3-0 record, Team USA is set to face Brazil in the first round of the knockout stages on August 6.
