With a four-time NBA Championship-winning coach at the helm and a bunch of All-Stars on the roster, Team USA was tipped to win gold at the 2023 World Cup.
Instead, it’s back to the drawing board for the second consecutive tournament.
The Americans will go home empty-handed after a stunning capitulation in the Philippines.
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A surprise defeat to Germany in the semi-finals ended the team’s gold medal hopes before they suffered a stunning 127-118 overtime loss to Canada in the bronze medal playoff.
Dillon Brooks led the way for the Canadians with 39 points, while fellow NBA players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points) and RJ Barrett (23) were also big contributors.
Anthony Edwards led the US with 24 points, backed up by LA Laker Austin Reaves (23).
No one is mistaking this US team for anything like the “Dream Team” line-ups of the past, with the likes of Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and LeBron James all sitting out.
But while the rest of the world has caught up, no other nation could boast a roster featuring NBA All-Stars Edwards, Jaren Jackson, Tyrese Halliburton and Brandon Ingram, reigning rookie of the year Paolo Banchero and a host of other NBA starters.
Led by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, the team easily accounted for New Zealand, Greece and Jordan in the group stage.
They made hard work of Montenegro to start the second round before losing to Lithuania, a result that should have been a wake-up call.
After hammering Italy in the quarter-finals, the Americans lost consecutive matches to Germany and Canada to miss out on the podium altogether.
The fallout was swift and brutal, with the team labelled “fake, pathetic stars”, a “bunch of frauds” and “crybabies that only care about money”.
They were fortunate to even make it to overtime against Canada, needing an incredible play from Mikal Bridges to force the extra period.
Bridges deliberately missed a free-throw, got the rebound, ran to the three-point line and nailed the shot to tie the scores with 0.6 seconds remaining.
But behind Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexander, the underdogs were too strong down the stretch.
The victory is a massive achievement for the Canadians, who were missing their best player in Jamal Murray but walk away with a first ever World Cup medal.
“This may be their greatest moment in international basketball,” commentator Jeff Taylor said.
“First time ever making it this far and they’ve made it on the podium.
“Wow, what a moment for Canadian basketball.
“The USA came here expecting to win this title and walk away with nothing.”
Germany and Serbia will face-off in the gold medal match.