We Know The Haka Dance Is Supposed To Be Intimidating, But Come On, That Doesn't Work When You're Playing Team USA In Basketball
I know this is the tradition for New Zealand and everything like that, but come on. You can do it in rugby where you're awesome. You can't do it in basketball when you're New Zealand. Look at Jalen Brunson. That man was ready to laugh, not because he's disrespecting tradition but because he knew Team USA was about beat New Zealand's ass. This might work against Lebanon, Jordan, Cape Verde or someone like that in the tournament who isn't good. But we're the red, white and blue baby. We ain't scared of the Haka.
Laugh out loud funny when the camera panned to Walker Kessler. Yeah the last guy on the team, who is there because it's the FIBA World Cup and not the Olympics is even like man, I know I'm about to get 10 and 10 if I really want to - or if coach lets me play. Okay he went 0-for-1 and barely played, but you get the point.
Oh and how did it work out?
And don't get me wrong. Number 16 on New Zealand would beat the shit out of me if I said this in person. But we're not in person. You can't break out the Haka for basketball against the USA. It doesn't matter if we send our D team, we're still Team USA in basketball and you're still New Zealand basketball.
Side note, the last person to do this in front of is Bobby Portis. Dude isn't afraid to punch his own teammates, a traditional dance ain't gonna scare him.