‘I just don’t agree’ First Take star sitting in for Stephen A. Smith slams Charles Barkley over Team USA Olympics claim
ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst has hit back at Charles Barkley's assessment of Team USA's narrow win over Serbia.
LeBron James and Co booked their place in the Olympics gold medal match with a nerve-shredding 95-91 victory on Thursday.
Windhorst joined stand-in host Brian Custer and fellow analyst Courtney Cronin on Friday's edition of First Take to analyze the comeback victory.
USA trailed by as many as 17 points before storming back with an epic fourth-quarter rally.
Ex-NBA MVP Barkley was a member of the 1992 Dream Team, which won gold in style 32 years ago.
The Inside the NBA star slammed Team USA on Friday morning during an appearance on ESPN radio.
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Barkley claimed the US "shouldn't even be tested" and "should win" gold because they "have the best 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 better depth, those are true statements," Windhorst responded.
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"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 went on to question why the US lobbied so hard for center Joel Embiid to join the team ahead of France, which resulted in him being booed throughout the competition.
"We needed him because our margin of error is so razor thin," he continued.
"We are now chasing naturalized citizens because we need the talent.
"The wolf is at the door. The US has been holding off international improvement for years now.
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"This was a great test against a team who had prepared for 10 years for this game.
"I'm telling you, Serbia has been gearing up to have Nikola Jokic in his prime, in this moment, for a decade."
Windhorst was supported by fellow analyst and ex-NBA star Kendrick Perkins.
"Charles Barkley is one of the greatest power forwards to ever play basketball," Perkins said.
"But this was just an asinine way of talking about Team USA and how they've represented our country."
Team USA's comeback has booked a showdown with France on Saturday night.
Steph Curry saved the US with a dazzling display of shooting in a manic fourth quarter.
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The Golden State Warriors star finished with 9 three-pointers, going 12-of-19 from the field.
"I've seen a lot of Team USA basketball and that was a special," Curry said following the game.