In a shocking turn of events at the FIBA World Cup, Germany emerged as the only unbeaten team, eliminating Team USA from title contention. The semifinal clash between these two basketball giants ended in a nail-biting 113-111 victory for Germany. It set the stage for an epic showdown in the tournament’s final against Serbia.

The disappointing result forced NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to chime in on the subject.

A shocking stunner in the FIBA World Cup

The game witnessed a fierce battle between the American and German squads, with each team trading blows throughout. After a challenging third quarter for Team USA, they faced an uphill battle to close the gap. Germany, however, displayed remarkable composure and had answers for every American offensive. With 3:17 left on the clock, the dynamic duo of Anthony Edwards and Austin Reaves took charge for Team USA Edwards threw down a thunderous dunk and followed it up with a clutch 3-pointer, igniting hope for a comeback. Reaves joined the party with a deep shot of his own, slicing Team USA’s deficit to just three points at 103-106.

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In the closing minutes, the tension reached its peak as Team USA fought valiantly to regain control. Dennis Schroder and Reaves exchanged critical baskets, keeping the game on a knife’s edge. With 1:35 left, Team USA trailed by a single point (107-108) after a clutch play by Schroder. The stage was set for a dramatic finish.

However, Germany showcased remarkable resilience and determination. Andreas Obst, a standout performer for the German squad, delivered a pivotal 3-pointer, while Schroder added a crucial jumper. With just 40 seconds remaining, Germany secured a 113-107 lead that proved insurmountable for Team USA. Germany’s victory over Team USA will undoubtedly go down as one of the most memorable upsets in recent basketball history. Meanwhile, Shaq’s latest remark has fans calling for a comeback.

Fans try to recruit Shaquille O’Neal for Team USA

After Team USA’s unexpected loss to Germany, Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t resist sharing his reaction on social media. He posted a screenshot of the final score, a narrow 111-113 victory for Germany, on his Instagram account. Alongside the image, he added the caption “dam gina“, a playful slang phrase akin to “Damn, girl“.

This lighthearted comment sparked a wave of humorous responses from fans. Some even humorously suggested that Shaq should come out of retirement to assist his nation. “Shaq coming out of retirement to help his nation 😂“. The loss prompted discussions about the future of Team USA basketball. This humorously provoked a thought for a fan who wrote, “It’s time for the super-team to reform,” jokingly referencing Team USA with Shaq and all the legends.

Despite the disappointment, some fans remained optimistic, believing that Shaq could lead the USA to gold at the next opportunity. The fan said, “Shaq gonna lead USA to gold next time”. While everyone took turns in banter, one fan wrote, “Is this a surprise to anyone at all?”

Another fan, in reference to Noah Lyles’ comments about the “World Champions” tag, wrote, “I guess that dude was right. “World champion of what!”.

While the disappointing result has called banter among fans this does bring things into perspective on how tough the FIBA World Cup competitions are. Despite a team solely NBA players, the Dennis Schroder-led Germany shocked Team USA and the fans alike. What is your take on this? Let us know in the comments below!

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