FIBA 2010 – Team USA wins gold medal at World Championship

Team USA managed to defeat Turkey in the final match to bring back to the United States the FIBA World Championship for the first time since 1994. Not only did they play the host team in a stadium filled with Turkey’s supporter, but Team USA, guided by head coach Mike Krzyzewski brought back the gold without the superstars that usually play in the Olympic Games. No Rajon Rondo, no Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Co. Just a group of talented, and sometimes underrated players, that put on their heart on the court and gave the American basketball fans great joy.

Kevin Durant was the highlight of Team USA. Not only did he guide the team’s efforts on the court, he also was awarded the tournament’s MVP award. The Americans won their first gold medal in 16 years with an 81-64 win over Turkey. Durant finished the tournament scoring 28 points in his last game, and breaking a record for most points in the tournament for an US player.

Coach K, finally was bringing back the gold to American soil, since he had had some issues in the last two FIBA competitions when he had won bronze medals twice. Now, remember what happened back in 2006 in the FIBA World Championship in Japan. It was again coach K from Duke University who was in front of the team. Even though big stars like Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett declined to participate in the team, NBA superstars like Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James made a commitment to play for the national team. Wade, James and the talented Carmello Anthony were named the team captains of the 2006 World Championship team.  It was Greece who cut the American Dream short after it eliminated Team USA in the 2006 FIBA semifinals.

This time around, Team USA played its cards in a different fashion. Let the big names out. Fewer superstars in a team usually mean fewer egos; and fewer egos is certainly a good sign of health for a more solid all around team. Because the team that went to the 2010 World Championship lacked the superstar factor, and was filled with 12 new players, many were dubbing the group the