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The United States men's basketball team extended their Olympic dominance on Saturday, securing their fifth consecutive gold medal with a 98-87 victory over France. This triumph marked the 17th Olympic gold for the United States in basketball.However, the team's post-victory celebration on social media sparked controversy. The official USA Basketball Twitter account posted, "Are we the World Champs now?" This message was perceived as a response to sprinter Noah Lyles, who had previously questioned the use of the "world champion" title by NBA winners.Lyles, who earned the title of "fastest man on the planet" at the Paris Olympics by winning the 100m gold medal, believes that NBA champions should not refer to themselves as "world champions." After the USA basketball team's Olympic victory, they shared a post that seemed to address Lyles' comments.The post drew criticism on social media, with many users pointing out that the FIBA World Cup, not the Olympics, determines the true world champions in basketball. Germany currently holds the FIBA World Cup title.Lyles had previously expressed his frustration with the NBA's use of the "world champion" label. "You know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have 'world champion' on their head," he said. "World champion of what? The United States? Don't get me wrong, I love the U.S. at times, but that ain't the world...We are the world."Despite the controversy, the USA basketball team's victory in Paris was a testament to their continued dominance in the sport. Led by NBA stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, the team overcame a strong challenge from France, who were led by NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.Curry played a pivotal role in the victory, scoring 24 points and hitting eight three-pointers, including a remarkable shot over Wembanyama. The United States' relentless effort and superior talent ultimately proved too much for France, securing their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

South Sudan's basketball team, ranked 33rd in the world, nearly pulled off a historic upset against a star-studded United States team in an Olympic warm-up game in London on Saturday. The South Sudanese led by 14 points at halftime and held a late lead before LeBron James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, sank the game-winning layup with eight seconds remaining.James finished with a game-high 25 points, while Joel Embiid, who became a US citizen in 2022, added 14 points and seven rebounds. Anthony Davis came off the bench to contribute 15 points and 11 rebounds.For South Sudan, Marial Shayok led the way with 24 points, while Carlik Jones had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. J.T. Thor, who plays for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, sank a three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining to give South Sudan a 100-99 lead.However, James's late heroics prevented South Sudan from pulling off one of the greatest shocks in international basketball."The ending was good for us -- just to feel that, to feel what it's going to feel like in Paris," said US coach Steve Kerr. "Good experience for us. Good reminder that when we play against teams, it's the biggest experience of their lives and we have to expect everyone to play like that."Kerr admitted that he did not prepare his team adequately for South Sudan's challenge. "I did not do a great job of preparing my team," he said. "We did not focus enough on what they are capable of and that's on me."James, a two-time Olympic champion and four-time NBA champion, emphasized the importance of continuous improvement for the US team. "We have to continue to take a step forward," he said. "A lot of these teams that we're playing have been practicing either one month or months in advance and we have maybe two weeks together."South Sudan's performance was a testament to their growing talent and potential. They will face the United States again in the Olympics group stages on July 31 at Lille.