Getty Image / Scott Taetsch
There’s no argument that the USA remains the country that puts out the best basketball talent in the world. Yes, the rest of the world is catching up, but that statement remains true.
It’s especially true at the junior levels, where USA Basketball Junior National Teams dominate at both the boys and girls sides.
That was on display on Sunday when the USA U16 Boys National Team took on Canada in the finals of 2023 FIBA Americas Championship. Now, Canada is a pretty good basketball country of their own. NBA stars like Shai Gilgeous Alexander, RJ Barrett, Jamal Murray and many others have come from our northern neighbors. But, the USA youngsters made them look awful.
The largest margin of victory in 🇺🇸 #USABMU16 history & the GOLD MEDAL🥇#FIBAU16Americas pic.twitter.com/DAr7TZ9vJG
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) June 12, 2023
Yes, that was the actual score. Canada did start the game with a 5-0 lead. Then, the Stars and Stripes went on an unbelievable 27-2 run and eventually led 54-13 before Canada started to play a little better and made it 71-23 at halftime. Yes, 71-23.
USA Basketball put the clamps on defensively in the second half, only given up 13 points en route to the 118-36 win. The USA’s leading scorer was Cameron Boozer with 24 points. The son of former NBA star Carlos Boozer is arguably the top prospect in the 2025 class.
People on Twitter could only chuckle at the score.
Lol to anyone who has said that the rest of the world is catching up to the US in basketball😂 there’s some great foreign players in the league but the US had an average margin of victory of 64 points in this tournament😂 https://t.co/sNod3CpQwE
— Jordan Nelsen (@JordanNelsen7) June 12, 2023
36 points 🥸 https://t.co/9ag5t3A4jm
— 🥶The Baller Plug🥶 (@AnalyticalCoach) June 12, 2023
WHAT IS THAT SCORE???? https://t.co/IkBWJcBydF
— Jordan A. Hayles (@MR_STiXX) June 12, 2023
Maybe USA Basketball was motivated from all the smoke the Canadians unleashed on us last week stemming from tragic forest fires in Eastern Canada.