United States crush Serbia to retain world title
The United States completed a clean sweep of the world’s best in crushing Serbia 129-92 on Sunday to win the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and become the first country to defend their crown since 2002.
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The United States completed a clean sweep of the world’s best in crushing Serbia 129-92 on Sunday to win the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and become the first country to defend their crown since 2002.
The Americans made 15 of 30 three-pointers with Kyrie Irving and James Harden combining for nine three-pointers and 49 points.
“Kyrie and James were amazing. But everybody wanted to work. They were always prepared. I’m proud of them. We feel very privileged to be called world champions,” said US coach Mike Krzyzewski
“Each one is special. The main difference is the players change. But the culture has stayed the same. The players have loved it. They didn’t have to be sold. They wanted to be part of it.”
Six other players scored in double figures for the Americans, who went undefeated in the tournament with an average winning margin of 33 points.
The US victory was close to the all-time record for the biggest winning margin in a final, the record being 46 points in a 137-91 US win over Russia in 1994.
The 129 points by the Americans were second to their showing in 1994
The Americans also secured their fifth world title, pulling them even with Yugoslavia, who repeated their title in 2002. Brazil also won back-to-back crowns in 1959 and 1963.
Irving was named MVP for the tournament.
“This is by far the biggest accomplishment in my life so far. I did this with guys I can call my brothers for the rest of my life,” he said.
“You’re part of something bigger than yourself. I was willing to do anything that ‘Coach K’ wanted. I just wanted to take every advantage I could playing with these guys and learning from these guys.”
