Is It Panic Time For U.S. Men’s Basketball?
The Lead
Wondery
3.9 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 16 July 2021
⏱️ 20 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The U.S. Men's National Basketball team has won four straight gold medals and looked pretty much unbeatable since 2004. That is, until recently. In the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Americans lost back to back games against Australia and Nigeria, and raised doubts over whether this team has what it takes to continue the streak of basketball dominance that the U.S. men's team has enjoyed for nearly two decades. The Athletic's Joe Vardon is embedded with the squad as they prepare for the Games. Today, we asked him whether fans should be worried about the teams prospects going forward or if this is just the growing pains of a hastily assembled squad.
Follow Joe Vardon's coverage of Team USA here: https://theathletic.com/author/joe-vardon/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to the lead ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. |
| 0:07.0 | Hi there, Wondry listeners. Hannah and Sruti here from TrueCram Podcast Redhanded. |
| 0:11.0 | Your favourite podcast Redhanded. We just wanted to say how excited we are to be included in Amazon Music |
| 0:16.0 | and Wondry's best podcasts of the year as chosen by their listeners, which is you. |
| 0:21.0 | So thank you so much to everyone who listened to us voted for us, all the things you do for us. |
| 0:26.0 | Any of you out there who haven't checked out Redhanded, what are you doing? What are you waiting for? |
| 0:31.0 | It's a weekly show where we deep dive into the most talked about cases like the Delphi murders |
| 0:35.0 | and also those you might never have heard of like the Nathari child sacrifices in Delhi. |
| 0:40.0 | Go listen to Redhanded right now on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 0:46.0 | For decades now, the U.S. men have been the gold standard of international basketball. |
| 0:58.0 | But recently, Team USA has hit some snags. |
| 1:01.0 | And it's two straight losses for Team USA in Las Vegas, 91-83 boomers. |
| 1:09.0 | The Athletics Joe Varden has been embedded with the team in the run-up to the Olympics |
| 1:13.0 | and had a front row seat for the recent losses to Nigeria and Australia. |
| 1:17.0 | And he joins us today to talk about just how concerned we should be about the U.S. squad |
| 1:22.0 | and if the age of American basketball dominance could actually be over. |
| 1:27.0 | Team USA is still what it is. |
| 1:29.0 | But I think that we are in a stage obviously where you can't slam your fist on the table |
| 1:34.0 | and guarantee it an American goal. |
| 1:36.0 | From Wondery and the Athletic, I'm Anders Kelto. |
| 1:41.0 | It's Friday, July 16th, and this is the lead. |
| 1:45.0 | It felt like something great was happening. |
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