Legendary NBA Star Has Rough 'Guarantee' For USA Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, MA - SEPTEMBER 07: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 enshrinee Ray Allen speaks during the 2018 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 7, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Two-time NBA champion and Basketball Hall of Famer Ray Allen thinks the United States' run as the basketball favorite is over.
Allen suggested that in the next five years USA basketball will have a tough time winning international titles - like the Olympics. He thinks European leagues will continue to develop talent and give the U.S. a run for its money.
“I guarantee you that by 2028, it’s going to be stiffer for the Americans to say that we’re the best country in the world at basketball," Allen said via the Indian Express. "If you look at the leagues in Europe, there are a lot of kids coming up that are going to be way better than American players. Which is a great thing for the sport."
“Look at the top 10 best players in the league," he added. "Around 75 percent are not born in the USA. That speaks volumes of how international the game has become. It also tells kids in America that you have got to work on your skills because players around the world are starting to play good basketball. That is reflected in world competitions like the Olympics."
The United States has won the last four gold medals at the Olympics.
