While Team USA’s close victory over Germany was applauded by many, there were some who thought that the United States’ dominance on the global stage is slipping. This prompted sports analyst Skip Bayless to drop an analysis centered on Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan right before the Olympics in Paris.
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James once again proved his worth as he led Team USA to a thrilling 92-88 victory over Germany in their exhibition game in London. The four-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist scored 20 points, including two clutch shots in the final minutes to secure the win.
With Germany leading 71-68 at the end of the third quarter, the game was tied at 75 with just over six minutes remaining. That’s when James stepped up and delivered. He drained a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from the right wing to give Team USA a 90-86 advantage, then isolated and scored a soft layup to put the game out of reach for Germany.
Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid , meanwhile, contributed 15 points, eight rebounds, and five assists for the Americans. Germany’s Franz Wagner led all scorers with 18 points, while Dennis Schroder had a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists.
This win capped off a 5-0 exhibition schedule for Team USA, who now shift their focus to the start of the Paris Games on Sunday, where they will face Serbia in their opening pool play match. With James leading the way, the United States will have a strong chance to win the gold in Paris.
Team USA Gets Harsh Michael Jordan Analysis From Skip Bayless After Win Over Germany
After Team USA’s win over Germany, different personalities gave their respective take on the game. Among them was Undisputed host Skip Bayless, as seen in a series of tweets he posted on X.
“There is still just something missing from our Team Gold — and I don’t just mean Kevin Durant. No real flow on offense. No consistent lock-down tenacity on defense,” Bayless tweeted.
“If Team USA had had Jordan in his prime today, it would’ve covered the 15.5-point spread,” he said.
“LeBron just went into full bullyball mode against Germany in the final “friendly” before the real games start Sunday in Paris. The oldest U.S. national team player ever is still bigger and stronger than anyone guarding him, at 6-9 by 260/270 pounds,” Bayless added.
While Bayless has been known as a constant critic to LeBron James, the points he raised seemed valid enough to consider. As it stands, Team USA needs a scorer of Jordan’s level to ensure their dominance on the global stage.
It remains to be seen whether Bayless will be proven right or wrong once everything this is said and done. In any case, a lot of fans will stay tuned to see how the LeBron James-led Team USA will fare in the Olympics.
