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USA Basketball focuses on Paris Olympics after loss in World Cup

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USA Basketball’s Austin Reaves and Anthony Edwards react during the loss to Canada in the World Cup bronze medal game.

MANILA, Philippines — There was a long flight awaiting USA Basketball on Monday. Manila to Los Angeles, about 13 hours on a chartered jet that didn’t have the wi-fi that’s necessary to communicate with the outside world from 30,000 feet. No texting, no emails.

That’s unfortunate. Those were 13 hours where recruiting for Paris couldn’t happen.

The World Cup is over. The U.S. didn’t medal. The world proved again that the Americans, even with NBA players, are vulnerable on the international stage.