USA Basketball has saved its No. 1 spot within the FIBA world males’s rankings, even after a disappointing seventh-place exhibiting within the World Cup that ended earlier this week.
It’s now nine-years-and-counting within the prime spot for the U.S., which has held the No. 1 rating since successful the 2010 world championship. World Cup champion Spain stayed No. 2, Australia leaped eight spots to No. 3, World Cup finalist Argentina rose one spot to No. four and World Cup bronze-medalist France fell two slots to No. 5.
FIBA’s rankings take outcomes from the newest eight years under consideration — which suggests the U.S. continues to be reaping level advantages from the 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medals and the 2014 World Cup title.
”In this point in time, basketball in different nations shouldn’t be a secret,” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich mentioned after the Americans accomplished their run within the World Cup. “So it’s not like there’s an epiphany or a revelation to be made. There are wonderful teams and wonderful coaches all over the world. You go compete and the best teams win.”
It’s now anticipated that the U.S. will retain the No. 1 rating going into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Several prime NBA gamers, together with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Damian Lillard have mentioned in current days that they intend to play for the U.S. in Tokyo, the place the Americans will attempt to win a fourth consecutive gold medal.
Most prime U.S. gamers declined to be a part of the World Cup crew.
”I’m anticipating them to be so robust subsequent yr,” Spain coach Sergio Scariolo mentioned.