Steve Kerr laments poor defence as US leave Basketball World Cup without medal

MANILA : Head coach Steve Kerr expressed disappointment with the United States ' performance at the Basketball World Cup , citing defensive struggles as a key issue. The U.S. team lost to Canada in the bronze-medal game, marking the second consecutive World Cup where they failed to secure a medal, finishing seventh in 2019. Despite reaching the semi-finals, Kerr highlighted the team's inability to get crucial stops in their games against Germany and Canada as a significant factor in their disappointing finish. The U.S. was without key players like Paolo Banchero , Jaren Jackson Jr., and Brandon Ingram , who fell ill due to an illness in the team camp. The American team managed to force overtime against Canada with a late three-pointer, but Canada quickly regained control in the extra period, sealing their bronze-medal victory. Kerr acknowledged the challenges posed by other international teams, citing their strong coaching, continuity, and teamwork as factors contributing to the difficulties faced by the U.S. squad. He expressed the difficulty of competing against well-coached teams with established chemistry. The United States last won the World Cup in 2014, and despite the disappointment, Kerr recognized the quality of the opposition they faced in the tournament. (with AFP inputs)