2019 FIBA World Cup: 3 biggest threats to take down Team USA

Honorable Mentions

Canada: Basketball has made significant strides in Canada in recent years. After Anthony Bennett became the first Canadian drafted No. 1 overall, the country has produced noteworthy lottery picks such as Jamal Murray, R.J. Barrett, Andrew Wiggins, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Unfortunately, none of them will be on the roster for various reasons. Such a shame considering the potential impact of head coach Nick Nurse’s ingenuity. On the bright side, Canada still has NBA and international veteran Corey Joseph, and losing Wiggins might be addition by subtraction.

Team Canada might be able to make some noise against lower-tier teams, but anything more is unlikely. However, their outlook could change dramatically if their young lottery picks elect to suit up in the future.

Greece: While the entire roster has either spent time in the NBA or played professionally in Europe, the majority of the production on the roster will likely come from one player: Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Greek Freak is fresh off of a season where led the league in PER (player efficiency rating), was the best player on a 60-win Milwaukee Bucks squad, and gyro-stepped James Harden for the MVP. Giannis also led the Bucks in points, rebounds, and assists; and it’s hard to imagine a different outcome with an inferior supporting cast.

Last season, he led the NBA in TS% (total shot percentage) and defensive box plus/minus and finished second in win shares, blocks, and rebounds. He’s also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and arguably the millennial Patrick Ewing. Gobert’s control of the paint presents a nightmare matchup for teams that primarily operate in the low post. Add skilled shooting to the equation, and you get a team ready to make an upset.