A week after Fox Sports Radio host Chris Broussard said on The Odd Couple that 2019's version of the 'Dream Team' was going to be the worst group of professional players that the United States has ever sent to an international competition, the team made headlines Wednesday after they lost a scrimmage against a United States 'Select Team'.
You may instantly get memories of the 1992 United States 'Dream Team', featuring Hall of Famers the likes of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson, infamously losing a scrimmage to group of college players as they prepared for the upcoming Barcelona Summer Olympics in 1992, but at least that team featured future NBA phenoms the likes of Chris Webber, Grant Hill, and Penny Hardaway.
In a game that was actually taped, the United States Men's Basketball Team, in preparation for next month's FIBA World Cup of Basketball, was blown out 36-17 in a scrimmage versus a who's-who of former NBA washouts, and G-League Players.
Ever heard of Chris Chiozza, DaQuan Jeffries, John Jenkins, Yante Maten, Ben Moore, or Chasson Randle? Me neither.
Arguably the 'Select Team's' most identiably player, Justin Anderson, was a former Virginia Cavalier who has spent five seasons in the NBA for the Mavericks, Sixers, and Hawks, averaging 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds.
The shocking loss echoes other dubious performances by US National Teams in informal competitions. The United States Women's National Soccer Team once memorably lost 5-2 to an under-15 boys team in 2017.