ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst responded to Charles Barkley’s assessment of Team USA’s narrow victory over Serbia.
LeBron James and company secured their place in the Olympic gold medal game with a nerve-wracking 95-91 victory on Thursday.
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Windhorst joined substitute host Brian Custer and fellow analyst Courtney Cronin on Friday’s edition of First Take to analyze the comeback win.
The US trailed by as many as 17 points before coming back with an epic fourth-quarter comeback.
Former NBA MVP Barkley was a member of the 1992 Dream Team that won gold in style 32 years ago.
The Inside the NBA star lashed out at Team USA on Friday morning during an appearance on ESPN radio.
Barkley stated that the U.S. “shouldn’t even be tested” and “should win” the gold because they “have the better team.”
He also accused coach Steve Kerr of “not using the team properly”.
Windhorst was asked if he agreed with Barkley’s comments during the opening segment of First Take.
“He said the US should win and the US has more depth, those are true statements,” Windhorst responded.
“But I just don’t agree with Charles when he says it’s not fair to expect them to be tested.
“Absolutely you should expect them to be tested.”
Windhorst questioned why the USA lobbied so hard for center Joel Embiid to join the team ahead of France, which led to him being booed throughout the competition.
“We needed it because our margin for error is very small,” he continued.
“Now we are going after naturalized citizens because we need talent.
“The wolf is at the door. The US has been delaying international improvement for years.
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“This was a great test against a team that had prepared for this game for 10 years.
“I’m telling you, Serbia has been preparing to have Nikola Jokic at his peak, at this point, for a decade.”
Windhorst was supported by fellow analyst and former NBA star Kendrick Perkins.
“Charles Barkley is one of the greatest forwards to ever play basketball,” Perkins said.
“But this was just a stupid way of talking about Team USA and how they represented our country.”
Team USA’s return set up a showdown with France on Saturday night.
Steph Curry saved the USA with a dazzling shooting display in a manic fourth quarter.
The Golden State Warriors star finished with 9 three-pointers, making 12 of 19 from the field.
“I watched a lot of Team USA basketball and that was special,” Curry said after the game.
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