#International Basketball

[retrocgads]

UK 1985

[smokeybrandreviews]

NBA Rant: World Champion for What

This stuff with Noah Lyles is hilarious because, technically, he ain't wrong. The fact that the US didn't even medal in FIBA, also goes a long way to prove his point. That said, the best players in the world do come here to hoop. I get both sides. The game has evolved and, while the level of NBA talent is still absolutely the best in the world, it's not like the world isn't catching up. A long time ago, we used to send college kids to compete in hoop against professionals from around the world. We won several gold medals until we lost one. The following world competition happened to be the '92 Olympic and the US sent the greatest NBA team ever assembled to absolutely embarrass the rest of the globe. And we did just that, however, it lit a match under the ass under the ass of the international game and they went to work. It's been thirty years since the first Dream Team busted ass across Barcelona and the international game is producing players almost as good as some of those guys who ran alongside Jordan. The Eurogame is all grind, fundamentals, skill, and hard work. If we're being honest, the US game has fallen sharply in terms of skill and relies too much on athletic talent. Why do you think guys go overseas and get exposed in Euroleauges?

The problem most US citizens have is the fact we do not see the game of basketball as a properly global one. For us, especially black kids from the ghetto, it’s intrinsically American. More to the point, it’s intrinsically black and black people are uniquely American. Way back when the NBA first started, there were no other participants around the world. It's American invention. For about a third of the NBA’s existence, the US WAS the world to the league. I mean, the simple answer, and probably the truest one, is that World Champion sounded cool and looks good on the trophy. That’s probably it. Hell, baseball calls their championship game the “World Series” so this argument can be made for that, too. Ultimately, this sh*t basically boils down to a very narrow US focus. We don’t value FIBA or “world” games unless it’s the Olympics. We are taught, early on, that the Olympics are the end all, be all, of global competition even though, technically, they’re not. No one else but the US takes that sh*t as serious. Well, maybe the host country but the United States puts so much weight on Olympic gold, it’s stupid. That is something, to this day, I never fully understood.

If you can’t tell, I’m in Lyles’ camp on this one. Calling a national title anything more than that is dumb to me. Especially when there are world games basically held every other year. I’ve watched the NBA for three decades, man. I know for a fact that the talent pool across the world has caught up. Cats like Giannis and Luka are out here running circles around our home grown guys, strictly because they had to have the skill to dominate in their respective leagues. Giannis is an athletic freak, for sure, but Luka? That dude is basically Dirk 2.0 and making our best talent look like clowns. With no vertical. Like, kid has a four inch jump but dog-walks most teams night in and night out. Basketball has truly become a global game and should absolutely be embraced as such here in the states. We shouldn’t refer to the winners of the NBA Championship as “World Champions” because they’re not. They are NBA Champions. I absolutely believe that the NBA is the premier league in the world. The best to ever play, play in The Association, regardless of where they are from. Luka and Giannis play in the NBA. Jokic, Duncan, and Ginobli. But also Jordan, Kobe, Magic, Curry, Steph, and LeBron. The best to ever do it, are from the US. The best to ever do it, are black kids from the ghetto. Still, it’s more than presumptuous to call our title, a world title, when Team USA just got beat by Canada in the actual world games, getting bounced out of medal contention in the process.

[world-fresh-news]

Dillon Brooks Scores 39 Points, NBA Fans Go Crazy

Manila, Philippines – Sunday’s FIBA World Cup game was like an NBA game, with Team USA and Team Canada going at it in a high-octane, free-flowing, star-versus-star game that had league-obsessed Filipinos feeling right at home in a thrilling farewell. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played his superstar role, scoring seven of his 31 points to start overtime and eventually claiming a 127-118 victory for…

[reportwire]

Australia wins bronze, Lauren Jackson scores 30 in finale

Australia wins bronze, Lauren Jackson scores 30 in finale

SYDNEY — Lauren Jackson admitted she couldn’t have imagined a better ending to her Hall of Fame career. Jackson willed Australia to a win in the bronze medal game at basketball‘s World Cup, scoring 30 points to lead the Opals to a 95-65 win over Canada on Saturday. “I could have never dreamed of this,” Jackson said. “I can’t imagine it. I can’t actually articulate how I feel right now. It’s a…

[xariarte]

Canada, we're going to the Olympics 🇨🇦 - Sept 3 2024

[fiercynn]

When 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso enters the WNBA -- likely as a top five pick after Monday's draft -- she will face a new challenge, in coming up against the world's best players on a regular basis. Outside the college game with the South Carolina Gamecocks, Cardoso has proven her ability with the Brazil national team under José Neto - including against the college coach who would later help her become one of the most sought-after prospects in women's basketball. On June 19, 2021, Dawn Staley and Cardoso crossed paths as competitors on the court for the first time. A month and a half earlier, Cardoso had transferred to South Carolina from Syracuse, where she spent her freshman season. However, on this particular day, Staley and Cardoso were adversaries as Neto's Brazil looked to plot a path past Staley's USA in the FIBA AmeriCup semi-finals. Ultimately, the USA won 71-60, but Cardoso proved to be undaunted by the occasion - putting in a huge shift on defense. Of her 10 rebounds on the day, eight were defensive rebounds. According to Neto, it is no accident that Cardoso is entering the WNBA as a player considered ready for a seamless transition from college basketball to the professional game. Rather, her success is a result of young players deliberately being exposed to international camps with Brazil's established WNBA stars.

[mayoiayasep]

top three adults i wish i could kill myself in front of to alter the trajectory of their life forever

[tetsunabouquet]

Basic Instinct Chapter 12

A/N: Warnings of abuse mentions (per usual), as well as bullying and racism- this is the Jabberwock chapter after all. Masterpost

"Are you really sure about that Jabberwock game?" You questioned softly, as you couldn't help but feel concern. "Of course I am. Why are you so worried love?" "Because their racist bullies! They're so tall and muscular, obviously, I am concerned about letting you play against them. Especially with the weight of the entirety of Japan's basketball players resting on your shoulders. They're already at NBA level, so doesn't it makes more sense to recruit the younger members of the Japanese national basketball team rather then some high schoolers with the potential for nationals?!" Your passionate, concerned rant made Akashi melt. 'She's so sweet and cute. When she looks like she's about to panic her eyes get so large I feel like I can see myself in them.' "Whilst I understand your concerns perfectly my love, this is a fight I cannot walk away from." Akashi kissed you on the top of your head as you sighed. There was no arguing in this, and you knew he wouldn't listen to you anyway. With a wry smile, you looked up at him. "Just don't let them hurt you okay. " "I won't. Don't worry, please." You let out another sigh, and watched as he went for the practise game with Vorpal Swords. All you could do was hope he'll be alright. You could just feel the presence of his father lurking in the shadows. He might not be really there, but you could feel his words and expectations pressuring Akashi to be glorious, victorious and above everyone. Urging him to go inside, and achieve victory on behalf of the entire nation. This might actually be a match big enough his father would compliment him for winning. With your own mother, you definitely knew what it was like to give it your all because you knew you'd be thrown a bone of affection if you did so, hope pounding in your chest because this might actually be enough to make them proud. You feared for the painful disappointment if his father didn't do anything, or worse, the consequences of Akashi failing everyone. You just wanted to keep him safe. Sometimes you thought of suggesting he'd drain some of his father's money and to just run away together. Both of you were turning 18 soon enough- you could elope together and never look back. It was an offer that tempted you ever so often, an offer you were still too afraid to make. Yet, every passing day, your fear seemed to melt bit by bit. This wasn't an okay situation, neither his homelife or yours. You needed to get out, and so did he. But that was a convesation for the future, right now, all you could do was show him the support he so very much needed.

You were in the stands with the Uncrowned Generals from Rakuzan, as the teams were introduced. 'They're all so really tall compared to Akashi… Are he and Kuroko really going to hold it out against a team that has such a height advantage in comparison?' You couldn't even sit down, it was as if every viber in your being was screaming at you to run into the court and break off the match. Overprotective girlfriend mode being fully activated. Reo put his hand on your shoulder and whispered in your ear, "It's okay y/n-chan. Relax, he won't be able to either when he sees you in this state." His words and gentle pulling, led you down on the seat next to him.

Akashi spotted you sitting down, and felt relieved. Of course, he could trust Reo to calm you down. 'Though I always pick the most dependable as my Vice Captain, after all,' was what he thought to himself as he turnt around to Midorima at his side. "We got this." Akashi muttered to his old friend, who pushed up his glasses. "Naturally." "You sure are talking cocky, for a bunch of monkeys!" Jason Silver's voice was a booming one, but the guy who was even taller then Murasakibara and at least as muscular as Nebuya could not intimidate Akashi. "Everyone always calls me cocky, but I am simply absolute." Akashi corrected, as the referee prepared for the tip-off. Zack huffed with distaste, and the rest of Jabberwock seemed as equally prepared to eat him and the Vorpal Swords alive. At least, that was their intention, but it did not reflect reality. Because no Jabberwock would go undefeated by the Vorpal Sword, not the Alice one, nor these ones. "Prepare your diapers, you little whiney babies! Call the hospital too, because you shorties aren't making it out of this match in one piece!" Jason continued to brag, and Nash Gold Jr at his side had a mocking smile playing on his face. As the ball was thrown into the air, he felt your eyes glued on him, and he smiled. Not with the cruelty of Nash Gold Jr, but genuinely and filled with warmth. He always played better when you were watching him. How he improved even beyond his already amazing skillset, was beyond everyone, but perhaps there was no better motivator then love. It made up for the lack of his father's presence, certainly. As he sprinted across the court, filled with your love and the memory of his mom's, this was all he needed right now. So as his 2nd persona disappeared and stitched itself together to his original one, he did not feel any worry for any potential effects it would have on his mental health. He had you now, and you were exactly what he had always needed. On the court and beyond. (Are Reader-Chan and Akashi ever going to run away? Who knows... But me, LMAO)

[myimaginationplain]

high school musical but it takes place at ohtori academy

[girderednerve]

i put a so-called digital wellness timer on my phone for this app and as a result i have been on here less. unfortunately i have been on tw/tter more so i think any effects on my "wellness" are probably dubious at best but who's to say

[cinematicnomad]

1, 3, and 8 for the fun things to be asked

001. what are 3 things you’d say shaped you into who you are? rather than just link you to my other answer, i will provide more (non-trauamtic) defining facets of my life: 1) my parents being almost 40 by the time they had me (38 and 39 respectively); 2) not getting my drivers license until i was 23 (follow this experience through the tag #kat learns to drive); and 3) my school in germany only having a mixed gender soccer team when i moved there in 4th grade

003. 3 films you could watch for the rest of your life and not get bored of? i feel like this is more difficult to just limit myself to 3. here's 3 random ones off the top of my head: eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, apollo 13, and the cutting edge.

008. any reacquiring dreams? unfortunately i don't, so i WILL be linking to my original answer here :)

ask fun questions!

[female-buckets]

Remember Julie Vanloo who torched USA all game long yesterday?

She wants you to know that KP stepped out of bounds on the final play of the game. And Julie even pointed it out to the referee!

And the photographer caught everything!

If the referee called this turnover, Belgium would've had the final possession, not USA.

[gingus-doon]

thinking of that transles separatist girlie who said every attractive trait in men is eroticized misogyny

[kdsburneraccount]

read a research paper about nba fandom in china and here are some interesting tidbits from it (link here):

We discover that these teenage sports fans constantly evoke elite athletes to rationalise their idealised, heteronormative version of masculinity, with Louie’s (2002) wen-wu paradigm offering an anchoring concept to decode their practice. Interestingly, these performatively heteronormative male teenage fans often attempt to monopolise the interpretation of masculinity. They contextually appropriate seemingly homosexual rhetoric, using the term, “CP” (coupling), (Hu and Wang, 2021: 679) to “ship” two elite athletes. This reflects their reception of slash imaginations created by heterosexual women and LGBTQ fans, shedding light on the post-reform diversification of masculinities in China. Yet, hollowing out the homosexual connotations of slash imaginations, these performatively heteronormative male teenagers categorically reject their out-group contemporaries’ seemingly similar usage of the CP rhetoric. Such a double-standard practice reveals how they entrench the subjectivity of men in gender power relations, pointing towards the perpetuation of patriarchal norms at a transitional stage of young Chinese men’s life journey.

(this reminds me when I translated an NBA fic and thought CP meant “central pairing” no it meant “coupling” you silly goose) (but I got the gist of it so whatever)

I cringed a lil at this ngl but i guess kobe idolatry extends across cultures

Bro no need to be so defensive 🧍 also

Ngl on tumblr I follow the nba tag and the amount of stuff idol blogs post with their guys in nba jerseys… yeah businesses are trying to get mass appeal from the nba, you could see it with the all-star voting from a couple seasons back when the kpop fans all voted for warriors players bc their idols told them to

Ao3 user nahco3 did not contribute to NBA fandom just for you guys to say they were “more like brothers” smh (also there are like 10 Chinese fics on ao3 that ship them so. L.)

[reportwire]

US women win fourth straight gold at World Cup, top China

US women win fourth straight gold at World Cup, top China

SYDNEY — The names on the U.S. team have changed, the Americans’ dominance has not. A’ja Wilson scored 19 points, Kelsey Plum added 17 and the United States beat China 83-61 on Saturday to win its fourth consecutive gold medal at the women’s basketball World Cup. “It feels great,” said Wilson, who was selected as the tournament’s MVP. “We came here on a mission, we got it. We got gold. Now we’re…

[xariarte]

☕️ what was your favorite moment of team canada's Olympic basketball run?

Ooooh...good question! It was actually all of it from beginning to end. I soaked up every moment bc I didn't know when it would suddenly stop (and the ending was brutal).

But here's a medium-sized summary!

Training camp: Seeing all the Canadian guys together again in one place, especially since they're all connected with each other, was a true delight. There's so many friendships on Team Canada, and I even learned about new connections that I didn't know about. 🥺

Media day/articles/photos: The Canadian Basketball and the FIBA media days were a treat. I love when players have to do those cheesy games and answer fun questions. I learned that Dwight loves his iced capps and that Nembhard loves chocolate glazed donuts from Tim Hortons. 🥰🇨🇦 Also, the amount of articles that came out about these players helped me to learn more about them!!

Canada vs USA exhibition game: Even though I knew Team USA would blow the team out, Canada vs USA in sports is always a good time (fondly remembering those days when I watched Olympic figure skating during the Virtue x Moir era ✨). Also...I can't lie. It was hilarious seeing my mutuals realize just how much DBrooks gets booed. 💀 The way that happens in EVERY Rockets game (except for four places).

Going 3-0 in the group: I watched the first game with my fashion bestie, who does not watch bball but knows some names of the players thanks to our fashion talks, so that was a true highlight. I also got to make Canadian basketball gifs, although I didn't make as many as I wanted to (someday I will go back and make more, I think 🤔).

Watching FIBA Barrett + FIBA Brooks: So delighted that RJ Barrett's improvement is real! 💖 It was so nice watching him be the Robin to Shai's Batman. And then on the flip side, I can't believe that FIBA Brooks is real. Didn't think it was possible for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to behave himself *and* play at peak form. 🧐 But jokes aside, I did enjoy watching him play defense (Anunoby's influence tbh...my original fave perimeter defender 💖).