Over the 2020s, it has become abundantly clear that the gap between the USA and other countries, especially in basketball, isn’t as wide as it used to be. The state of the NBA would be the easiest pathway to understanding that occurrence.
Since 2019, every single MVP has been born on foreign soil, while Team USA has lost its grip on the World Cup as well. Now, as the 2027 FIBA World Cup looms in the background, they decided to add two of the best coaches in the league, Mark Daigneault and JB Bickerstaff, to an already impressive coaching staff led by Erik Spoelstra.
Mark Daigneault and JB Bickerstaff are Reinforcements for Team USA
The big concern for Team USA has to be the World Cup. Despite the overwhelming talent discrepancy, they haven’t run roughshod over the tournament. Moreover, in the last three-decades, the team has won the entire thing just twice.
To make matters worse, their last finish inside the top-3 came more than a decade ago, back in 2014 when they won the World Cup. Since then, they have been disastrous at the tournament, with their worst finish coming in 2017, as they ended up seventh.
Unfortunately, their luck did not change in 2023 either. Despite Steve Kerr sitting in a head coaching role, the team only finished fourth, behind the likes of Germany, Serbia, and Canada. Even though they took home the Gold Medal in 2024, their history at the Olympics has been far more glorious.
Winning Gold at the last five events consecutively, they are at the pinnacle of Olympic basketball. However, the team needs a change at the World Cup level. With Erik Spoelstra assuming head coaching responsibilities, they were quickly able to identify the weaknesses from within.
As a result, insider Shams Charania reported, “USA Basketball is expected to name Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault, Detroit’s JB Bickerstaff and Gonzaga’s Mark Few as assistant coaches for national team coach Erik Spoelstra’s staff, sources tell ESPN.”
The news was met with immediate support, given the trio’s resumes, which speak for themselves. Spoelstra, who has a rabid fan following for his work with the Miami Heat, immediately earned high praise from his faithful.
The coaching staff of Spoelstra-lead Team USA
GOLD incoming 🔥 https://t.co/6aXv48dR6G
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) July 14, 2026
As one fan exclaimed, “The coaching staff of Spoelstra-led Team USA. GOLD incoming,” the overall feeling was tipping heavily in the positive direction.
Daigneault, who has led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the one-seed in three consecutive seasons, including delivering the first NBA championship in franchise history, has carved out a name for himself as one of the best young minds in the business.
As a result, Thunder beat writer Brandon Rahbar was overjoyed by the decision. “Mark Daigneault is a great hire for the USA Basketball coaching staff. One of the best in the business. Team USA going to win all their challenges.”
Simultaneously, Bickerstaff, who has led the Detroit Pistons to the one-seed in the Eastern Conference, continues to prove his mettle as a basketball mind.
Gonzaga’s Mark Few will remain with USA Basketball as an asst. under new coach Erik Spoelstra. Likely means Few will coach at the 2027 FIBA World Cup & 2028 LA Olympics.
Spoelstra to me on Few in 2024: “He’s a brilliant basketball coach. One of the very best in this business.” https://t.co/w5u731w1rD
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) July 14, 2026
However, for those unfamiliar with Few, Gonzaga beat writer Theo Lawson revealed his future with the national team. “Gonzaga’s Mark Few will remain with USA Basketball as an asst. under new coach Erik Spoelstra. Likely means Few will coach at the 2027 FIBA World Cup & 2028 LA Olympics.”
Then, he added a special message from Spoelstra, who gave Few his vote of confidence nearly two years ago. “Spoelstra to me on Few in 2024: ‘He’s a brilliant basketball coach. One of the very best in this business.'”
It didn’t take long, though, for the jokes to start flying in as well. At the Olympics, one of the biggest mysteries of the entire tournament was Jayson Tatum getting virtually no playing time.
At the time, many tried to levy the blame exclusively on Kerr’s feet. As a result, a fan page for Tatum was quick to react to the new coaching staff. “Free from the shackles of Steve Kerr,” they joked.
Free from the shackles of Steve Kerr pic.twitter.com/yb0qyU0XQm https://t.co/e4UxHXMEC8
— jb (@lockedupjb) July 14, 2026
But even as fans found humor in the situation, approval for strengthening Team USA’s coaching staff was nearly unanimous. Given the current state of basketball and the balance of power in the NBA, it might have been an extremely smart choice to add as much expertise as possible, with the World Cup and Olympics around the corner.
