Kyrie Preaches Patience for Team USA After Scrimmage Losses

Mavs superstar Kyrie Irving cautioned fans from panicking after Team USA's main squad was taken down twice by the Select Team.

DALLAS — National teams from around the world are currently preparing for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with friendly exhibition games. There tends to be a significant media focus placed on Team USA, and when something happens like the Select Team defeating the main squad, it becomes a top storyline. 

Kyrie Irving, who helped Team USA to win the gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, used social respond to share wisdom after the Select Team commanded major attention for winning two games. Irving preached the importance of being patient as new players are building chemistry. 

“It happens, it’s part of the game when everybody is trying to find a role and earn playing time," Irving wrote in a social media post. "You gotta give the guys on the World Cup team time to gel and get to know each others game. Don’t over reach with this post.”

It Happens, it’s part of the game when everybody is trying to find a role and earn playing time. You Gotta give the guys on the World Cup team time to Gel and get to know each others game.
Don’t over reach with this post.

Hélà
🤞🏾♾🪶 https://t.co/mr1WQ3RQdB

— Chief Hélà 🤞🏾 (@KyrieIrving) August 4, 2023

Team USA is set to participate in a series of five exhibition matches in preparation for Group play with the first being a game against Puerto Rico at T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The other matchups will take place abroad, with two taking place in Malaga, Spain, with another two games in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  

The Dallas Mavericks do not have any players participating with Team USA, but will be well-represented at this year's FIBA Basketball World Cup, headlined by Luka Doncic leading Slovenia. Doncic will take on Team USA in an exhibition game in Malaga, Spain, on Aug. 12. 

Other players include Josh Green with Australia and Dwight Powell representing Canada. Maxi Kleber was supposed to participate for Germany, but controversial statements from team captain Dennis Schroder had led to his withdrawal. Kleber went as far as to release a statement explaining that he no longer felt welcome. 

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Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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