Casual and avid basketball fans definitely had things to say.
There seems to be a lot of ambivalence with Team USA's roster for the FIBA World Cup if FIBA's poll is any indication.
More than half, at 57%, as of this writing, selected "We'll see" as a response on whether Team USA can go all the way in the basketball tournament.
Recall that Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and a Marcus Smart-led Team USA only finished seventh in the 2019 edition.
They lost to Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert of France in the quarterfinals, then to Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Jokic of Serbia, before salvaging a win against Poland.
The current version of Team USA features 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, who was previously courted by Italy. The Orlando Magic chose to play for the United States instead.
Joining him are fellow 2023 All-Stars Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, and Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Brooklyn Nets' Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson are also joining the fray.
Josh Hart of the New York Knicks couldn't help but chuckle. He was teammates again with Bridges and Jalen Brunson
—all products of the Villanova Wildcats.
Rounding up the roster are New Orleans Pelicans' Brandon Ingram, Utah Jazz's Walker Kessler, Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis, and Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves.
Some fans had doubts about whether this Team USA could go far.
They don't have much experience in senior events of FIBA competitions. While nine have played before for USA Basketball, Hart, Johnson, and Reaves will be making their USA debuts.
Ingram, an NBA Most Improved Player, trained with the Rio 2016 squad as part of the USA Men's Select and was a finalist for the Tokyo 2020 roster.
Some of them though have participated at the global youth stage.
Haliburton was part of the USA Select Team, which competed against Team USA heading to Japan. He also helped the squad win the 2019 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
Jackson won a gold medal at the 2016 FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup.
Brunson was the MVP of the 2015 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup and won gold at the 2014 FIBA U18 Men’s Americas Championship.
Team USA coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors doesn't seem to be too concerned.
"My staff and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to coach such talented, team-oriented players," he said in a statement. "I’m confident this group will represent our country well, with effort, talent, and a commitment to winning together."
Helping him will be Gonzaga's Mark Few, Los Angeles Clippers' Tyronn Lue, and Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra—who expressed eagerness in coming back to Manila.
They will go up against Greece—a country which is in danger of losing star player Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Also in Group C at the Mall of Asia Arena will be FIBA Asia Cup 2022 MVP Wael Arakji and Lebanon, along with a New Zealand squad that is well-versed and well-honed in FIBA competitions.