The United States men’s basketball team experienced disappointment as they left the Philippines without a medal in the FIBA World Cup. Despite a miraculous shot by Mikal Bridges to send the game into overtime, the Americans were unable to overcome the Canadians, ultimately losing the bronze medal game 127-118. Dillon Brooks led Canada with 39 points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 31 points and 12 assists. This marks the second consecutive World Cup in which the U.S. failed to medal, a surprising outcome considering their status as favorites heading into the tournament and their recent struggles, losing three of their last four games.
USA coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the difficulty of winning against strong FIBA teams, praising their coaching, continuity, and long-standing chemistry. The United States’ last World Cup victory came in 2014, highlighting the challenging nature of the competition. This recent outcome also marks only the seventh time in 38 appearances at the Olympic or World Cup level that an American team did not secure a medal.
Despite Bridges’ incredible game-tying shot with 0.6 seconds remaining in regulation, Canada maintained their composure and powered through. Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized their belief in their performance throughout the majority of the game, leading them to focus on winning the next five minutes. Following the loss, players like Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards expressed their disappointment, acknowledging that while it was tough, not every game can be won.
In a historic achievement for Canada, their last medal in either the Olympics or the World Cup came back in 1936 when they lost to the U.S. in the gold medal game played under challenging conditions, including a rainstorm on a clay court.