In the recent international basketball arena, the teams played a variety of exciting games, subverting the expectations of fans around the world. Strong teams have suffered setbacks, and basketball supremacy is in jeopardy. This fully proves that the level of global basketball competition has been comprehensively improved, and the cruelty of competition has surpassed the situation of the United States, Spain and other strong teams in the past. The rise of new teams is changing the landscape.
The U.S. men's basketball team lost to Cuba with a score of 67-81 in a game in 2024, which was the first loss to Cuba in the history of the U.S. men's basketball team.
The Spanish men's basketball team has also been plagued by defeats recently. In the game, they lost by a narrow margin of 81-87 to the strong Italian team. At the beginning of the game, the Spanish men's basketball team looked very strong, but as the game progressed, their form did not improve, and they ended up losing the game. This is exactly what basketball is really like, there is no such thing as a strong team forever, only endless competition. Competition is becoming more and more fierce on a global scale, and the status of traditional powerhouses is being challenged by new teams.
The Chinese men's basketball team lost to Japan in the Asian competition, losing the game by a narrow 3 points, which was also the first time that the Chinese men's basketball team lost to the Japanese team, which made it fall to second place in the group stage. This result is undoubtedly a big blow to the morale and confidence of the Chinese men's basketball team. From another point of view, it also reflects the increasingly fierce competition in Asian basketball, a sport loved by people around the world. From the frequent unpopularity to the sudden emergence of new stars, it is breathtaking. Taking 2024 as an example, we can reveal this fierce competition phenomenon from some specific data and examples.
In the men's basketball field of the 2024 Olympic Games, the United States team bore the brunt of the loss, but lost to the Lithuanian team by a narrow margin of 76-78. The result of this game shocked the global basketball community and sparked a heated discussion about the reorganization of the basketball power map. The unexpected defeat of the U.S. team was not only their first defeat at the Olympics, but also a reminder of the improvement of other teams.
It should also be noted that in the Asian Basketball Championship, in the semifinals, the Chinese men's basketball team, which has always been regarded as an Asian basketball giant, lost to the South Korean team 71-75 in the game and stopped in the semifinals. This also reiterates the gradual improvement of the level of basketball competition in Asia. Although the Chinese men's basketball team has held the top spot in Asian basketball in previous years, the victory of the South Korean team is a wake-up call for them, and other Asian teams are also emerging from the public.
Similarly, the European Basketball Championship scenario is striking. In the final, Spain lost to France with a score of 79-83 and missed out on winning the championship. France's victory was clearly no accident, as they proved themselves to be strong against strong opponents on several occasions in the tournament. Once again, it proves that there is no eternal powerhouse in basketball, and the Asian basketball community has shown an impressive rising momentum, and the Chinese men's basketball team should respond to this with a cautious and serious attitude. Taking the 2024 Tokyo Olympics qualifiers as an example, the performance of the Chinese men's basketball team in Asia did not meet expectations, losing to traditional competition opponents such as Iran and the Philippines. This phenomenon is a wake-up call that the pattern of Asian basketball is quietly changing.
The first thing to be clear is that the dominance of the Chinese men's basketball team in Asian basketball is no longer indestructible. With the gradual improvement of the basketball level of other Asian countries, their teams are more professional and international, and their strength should not be underestimated. For example, in the 2023 Asian Cup, the Chinese men's basketball team lost to the South Korean team in the final and lost the championship. The result has raised questions about the strength of China's men's basketball team, and other countries in Asia have made remarkable progress in basketball.
The performance of the Chinese men's basketball team in the international arena has entered a period of volatility. Although the Chinese men's basketball team has achieved brilliant results in Asia and performed well in world-class competitions, its results have fluctuated in recent years. For example, in the 2024 Olympic qualifying round, the Chinese men's basketball team lost to Iran by a narrow margin and unfortunately lost its qualification for the Olympic Games. This result once again highlights the lack of strength of the Chinese men's basketball team under the basket, problems in defense and counterattack, and many other problems. In the face of such a situation, the Chinese men's basketball team must reflect deeply and make positive changes to cope with increasingly powerful competitors.