Following a shocking defeat against the Australian national side in an exhibition match last week, some doubt has been creeping in with regards to Team USA's potential to go all the way and win the gold medal in the upcoming FIBA World Cup tournament.
Nevertheless, with the start of the prestigious tournament just days away, the team's confidence remains at an all-time high. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is definitely a believer, as the 21-year-old expressed his belief that the national squad is every bit ready to literally take on the world.
“It’s go-time now,” said Jayson Tatum, John Karalis of Mass Live. “This is the real thing. We’ve been together for about a month now, almost a month, we’ve built some chemistry. We’ve gotten to know each other pretty well. Everybody’s just ready for the first game. “
Fellow Celtic Kemba Walker echoed his teammate's rally cry. The new Boston recruit explained how the whole team's mentality has reached a whole different level at this point, with the official start of the tournament looming.
“Yeah, it’s kicked in,” Walker said. “Next game we play, it’s for real. It’s the real thing. We’re just focused. We’re locked in and just ready to play.”
Team USA is part of Group E along with the Czech Republic, Japan, and Turkey. Tatum and company will kick things off on Sunday when they face the Czech Republic. Tip-off for this highly-anticipated contest will be at 8:30 Eastern Time this Sunday, September 1.
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