(Team USA, with a gold medal around their necks, soaks in their championship as the U.S. National Anthem plays. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images/USAB)
USA Basketball continued its national dominance in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, which wrapped up Sunday afternoon in Madrid, Spain. Unlike we all predicted — and hoped to see — Team USA wasn’t playing Spain, France or Argentina in the Gold Medal Game. Instead, it was a surprise team: Serbia. They had knocked off France the day before to advance to the finals.
Serbia controlled the game for the first five minutes, but then Team USA, led by Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving rolled the rest of the way, finishing on top, 129-92. Irving was 6-of-7 from the field in the first quarter, including 3-for-3 from downtown.
By halftime, they had nearly doubled Serbia’s point total, and it they led by more than 40 points at one point in the second half. Pure dominance by USA’s part — and that’s how it should be.
After congratulating managing director Jerry Colangelo, coach Mike Krzyzewski, and the team, my next thought was about Paul George, the Pacers swingman who, because of a horrific right-leg injury that’ll cost him this NBA season, was unable to take part in World Cup play.
[PHOTO: Paul George not forgotten in Barcelona]
I wrote on Twitter that USA Basketball should do the right thing and give George a gold medal. If he hadn’t suffered the injury in their scrimmage – he hustled back on defense as to not prevent the easy layup – he would have been a starter and key contributor on the team. Instead, he was forced to watch at home in Indy with a split on his right leg.
Following their win, and shortly after having the gold medal placed around the player’s and coach Krzyzewski’s neck, coach made a phone call. This came even before he addressed the media — it was that important.
Coach K, a total class act, called George “just to tell him that he has been with us the whole way,” coach explained.
Sam Amick of USA TODAY reported that during the phone call, coach K told George his gold medal is on the way.
George is getting one, as he should.
Two other players talked about George’s influence on the team, and the trip.
We did this for our country and PG
— klay thompson (@KlayThompson) September 14, 2014
This Gold Medal win was for my brother @yg_trece ! Wish you could be here bro! http://t.co/gcxCHRxNRW
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) September 15, 2014
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