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The US Men’s Basketball Team lost for the first time in 79 games, 13 years and to Team Australia in their second of two exhibition games against the Boomers ahead of the 2019 FIBA World Cup thanks in no small part to a 30-point explosion from the Spurs’ own Patty Mills, including 24 points in the second half.
Naturally Gregg Popovich couldn’t be more proud of his veteran guard despite the historic defeat to his US squad, but that didn’t stop him from joking that the Spurs have already traded him as a result.
Almost forgot this one: Pop’s reaction, a day after Patty Mills dropped 30 points on Team USA.
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) August 25, 2019
“We’ve already traded Patty.” pic.twitter.com/pCaiHz0Q3t
Obviously this isn’t true, but Patty had better watch himself when training camp starts. Team captain or not, it appears he’ll have to work to get back on Pop’s good side. Maybe a bottle of Australia’s finest wine would be a good start.
Team USA has one final exhibition game against Canada on Aug. 26 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney before the start of the World Cup.