NBA star player Lebron James said the USA team faced real test in a warm-up game against South Sudan ranked 33rd in the world. The game almost became an upset in world basketball history.
The star-studded USA is aiming to win their fifth Olympics gold medal in Paris 2024, but they were given a rain check by Olympics debutants South Sudan Saturday at the O2 Arena in London. South Sudan took 58-42 points lead in the second quarter, but the US team came from 16 points down to finish up the scores 101- 100 with a Lebron James crucial hit in the last 20 seconds of the game.
The 12-man USA roster is filled with some of the NBA’s greatest talents, while only four of the South Sudan team have played an NBA game. But they outplayed the world number one side in the first half, hitting 61% of their shots, while the USA only made one three-pointer.
The United States have won all four of their pre-Olympic exhibition games, with their final warm-up coming against Germany at the O2 on Monday.
“That was better than the blowouts, at least we got tested – I like getting tested, baby,” said two-time Olympic champion Lebron James, 39.
The USA and South Sudan will face each other in Group C of the 2024 Olympics on 31 July.
“The match was super important because we feel like we can’t be beaten and they showed us we can be beaten,” said USA guard Anthony Edwards.
“We have to come ready to play.”
