Despite Team USA's gold medal victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Shaquille O'Neal expressed disappointment over their performance, stating that he expected more dominant wins. He criticized the team's close calls, particularly a narrow 101-100 victory over Team South Sudan, labeling such outcomes as unacceptable for a historically dominant program. O'Neal's comments reflect a broader concern about the growing competitiveness of international basketball, although he dismisses the idea that other nations are closing the gap. He maintains that the U.S. should always win decisively, given its legacy since the 'Dream Team' era. Looking ahead, there are questions about the future of Team USA as key players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry may not return for the 2028 Olympics due to age. Nonetheless, O'Neal remains unconcerned about the overall trajectory of American basketball talent.