A war of words has ignited between USA legend Tim Howard and Bosnia and Herzegovina manager Sergej Barbarez ahead of the two nations’ World Cup clash.
The USMNT meet Bosnia in the Round of 32 on Wednesday night at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are favourites heading into the tie after winning their group with two wins from three games.
That said, the Americans did suffer a surprising 3-2 defeat to Turkey in their final Group D game after wins over Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0. This raised doubts over the co-hosts’ chances of reaching the latter stages of the tournament ahead of their encounter with Bosnia.
Bosnia finished third in Group B with one win, one draw and one defeat in their three games. Led by Edin Dzeko, the European nation heads into tonight’s game as underdogs.
USA vs Bosnia – Barbarez Hits Back at Howard
REUTERS/Daniel Cole
Howard isn’t concerned about the Bosnians and urged USA fans not to stress after the loss to Turkey. The former Manchester United goalkeeper insisted Pochettino’s team will bounce back while speaking on Unfiltered Soccer:
“Bosnia, they’re better off not even getting on a plane and going to San Francisco, because the U.S. is gonna put work in against them.”
Barbarez clapped back at Howard with a brutal response when the American pundit’s comments were put to him during the pre-match press conference:
“Who is he?, I don’t know who he is!”
Bosnia’s coach then gave a serious assessment of his nation and their ambition to reach the last 16. He told reporters, “We are a small country and sometimes things like that happen, but I have no problem with it.”
He added: “My boys don’t have a problem with it … You’re playing for a place in the round of 16. If that’s not motivation enough, then I don’t really notice things like that.”
Bosnia started their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against co-hosts Canada before losing 4-1 to Switzerland. They then beat Qatar 3-1 to seal their place in the knockout rounds.
Barbarez acknowledged the USA as favourites but insisted his side have no problem with being the underdog. He is only focused on guiding his side to victory in Santa Clara.
Dzeko Criticizes USA Mindset
Reuters/Steven Bisig
Howard wasn’t the only American to mock Bosnia in the build-up to the game, as ABC7 presenter Abigail Velez also joked about the Europeans. In a viral clip, Velez tried pointing the country out on the map and said:
“In the next round, Team USA will play Bosnia next Wednesday. And, one thing about Bosnia [is that] I could not point out where it is on a map. That’s because Team USA, we’re back, we’re better than ever. Get prepared Bosnia, because you don’t want it. You don’t want it like that. But you’re gonna get it.”
This didn’t go down well with Bosnia captain Dzeko, who questioned the Americans’ mentality before the game. The former Manchester City striker told Ben Jacobs for talkSPORT:
“That shows a lot about them. Not about us. I think the most important thing is what the guys in the American team, in the US team, think. And I think they are not going to underestimate us. They know we have qualities, and we know we have qualities. You are the favorites, but the knockout phase is totally different than the group stage.”
Bosnia are participating in their second World Cup campaign after beating Italy in the playoffs to qualify. Their only previous participation came in 2014 when they crashed out during the group stages.
Dzeko is Zmajevi’s talisman and all-time top goalscorer with 73 goals in 150 games. The 40-year-old Schalke frontman will be eager to add to that tally against the USA and help his country pull off a shock in Santa Clara.
England have survived a scare from DR Congo to set up a mouth-watering Mexico City reunion.
Harry Kane inspired England to a dramatic 2-1 win over DR Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, dragging the Three Lions from the brink of elimination after Brian Cipenga’s early strike had stunned everyone in attendance.
Thomas Tuchel’s side toiled for over an hour against a disciplined and fearless Congolese outfit before two second-half goals turned the tie in their favour, setting up a round of 16 date with hosts Mexico in the Estadio Azteca on Sunday, going into Monday morning.
England Player Ratings vs DR Congo
Player
Rating
Jordan Pickford
6
Djed Spence
5
Ezri Konsa
7
Marc Guéhi
7
Nico O’Reilly
6
Elliot Anderson
6
Declan Rice
7
Noni Madueke
7
Jude Bellingham
7.5
Marcus Rashford
6.5
Harry Kane
9.5
Anthony Gordon (sub)
8.5
Bukayo Saka (sub)
7
Eberechi Eze (sub)
6
Congo Player Ratings vs England
Player
Rating
Lionel Mpasi
8.5
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
7.5
Chancel Mbemba
7.5
Axel Tuanzebe
6.5
Arthur Masuaku
6
Ngal’ayel Mukau
6
Samuel Moutoussamy
6.5
Noah Sadiki
6
Nathanaël Mbuku
6
Yoane Wissa
7
Brian Cipenga
7.5
Meschack Elia (sub)
6
Kane’s Brace Ends Congo Resistance
Nathan Ray Seebeck via Reuters
Kane was the difference in a game England had barely any right to win. Held at bay bay for the best part of 70 minutes, the captain finally broke through in the 75th, nodding home Anthony Gordon’s cross to level matters. He struck again soon after, latching onto a second Gordon assist to fire beyond Lionel Mpasi and move to 13 World Cup goals, overtaking Pele in the all-time charts.
Spence Errors Punished, Anthony Gordon Changes the Game
England’s Djed Spence
Djed Spence endured a difficult afternoon deputising at right-back, badly caught out for Cipenga’s seventh-minute opener as Congo exploited the space in behind the Three Lions. England were sluggish for long spells, before Tuchel’s introduction of Gordon and Saka on the hour mark injected the pace and directness that had been missing, with Gordon in particular proving the catalyst for the late turnaround.
The Los Angeles Lakers rank among the most decorated franchises in NBA history, winning 17 championships – just one fewer than the Boston Celtics’ all-time record – and establishing a legacy built on decades of sustained success.
From the iconic Showtime teams of the 1980s, which captured five championships in a 10-year stretch, to the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant dynasty that secured three straight titles between 2000 and 2002, the Lakers have delivered countless unforgettable moments while producing many of the greatest stars the game has ever witnessed.
Choosing the greatest Lakers players of all time is never an easy debate, so GIVEMESPORT turned to ChatGPT to select and rank the 10 finest players ever to represent the famous purple and gold.
While the AI’s rankings were based on individual achievements, team success, and overall influence, several legendary figures narrowly missed out on the top 10. Honourable mentions include Gail Goodrich, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, A.C. Green, and Anthony Davis.
So, without further ado, here are the 10 greatest Los Angeles Lakers players of all time – ranked by AI.
10 Pau Gasol
2x NBA Champion, 3x All-Star (with Lakers)
Acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in a 2008 trade, Pau Gasol became a crucial piece of the Lakers’ back-to-back NBA championship teams in 2009 and 2010, forming an outstanding partnership alongside Kobe Bryant.
During his time in Los Angeles, Gasol averaged 17.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists across 429 games. He also earned three All-Star selections and established himself as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history.
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ChatGPT described Gasol as Kobe’s ‘perfect sidekick’ during the late 2000s, highlighting the significant impact he made after joining the Lakers from Memphis in 2008 and helping transform the franchise’s fortunes.
“Kobe Bryant’s perfect sidekick in the late 2000s. Intelligent, unselfish, and clutch in big moments. His acquisition changed the trajectory of the franchise in 2008.”
9 James Worthy
3x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP
Selected with the No.1 overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft, James Worthy spent all 12 seasons of his NBA career with the Lakers and became a cornerstone of the franchise’s famous Showtime era.
Playing alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Worthy was an integral part of one of the greatest teams in NBA history, helping the Lakers capture three championships. His standout performance in the 1988 Finals also earned him Finals MVP honours.
According to AI, Worthy consistently justified his ‘Big Game James’ nickname and played a pivotal role in the Lakers’ dominance throughout the 1980s, averaging 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 926 games.
“‘Big Game James’ lived up to the nickname. Crucial to the Showtime Lakers with his slashing style and postseason heroics.”
8 Wilt Chamberlain
1x NBA Champion (with Lakers), 1x Finals MVP
Wilt Chamberlain spent the final five seasons of his legendary career with the Lakers and helped lead them to the 1972 NBA championship – the franchise’s first since moving to Los Angeles.
The dominant center was a key defensive anchor and rebounder during his time with the Lakers, and this is why ChatGPT placed him eighth on the greatest Lakers ever list.
“Not at his statistical peak with the Lakers, but still dominant. His 1972 championship team set a then-record 69 wins. He was a key defensive anchor and rebounder.”
Chamberlain averaged 19.2 rebounds, 17.7 points and 4.3 assists in 339 games for the Lakers and was named Finals MVP in 1972.
7 LeBron James
1x NBA Champion (with Lakers), 1x Finals MVP
LeBron James signed with the Lakers in 2018 and helped bring an end to the franchise’s decade-long championship drought by leading them to the NBA title in 2020.
During that season, he steered the Lakers to championship success inside the Orlando bubble and claimed Finals MVP honours, becoming the first player in NBA history to win the award with three different franchises – Miami, Cleveland and Los Angeles.
A player of this stature is always going to have a long que of potential suitors.
LeBron also surpassed the NBA’s all-time scoring record while wearing a Lakers uniform in 2023, and ChatGPT believes his continued elite level of play well into his late 30s has secured his place as the seventh-greatest Laker of all time.
“Though most of his legacy was made in Cleveland and Miami, he brought a title to the Lakers in 2020 and has continued elite play well into his late 30s.”
6 Elgin Baylor
11x All-Star, 10x All-NBA First Team
Elgin Baylor joined the franchise in 1958 when it was still based in Minneapolis and became one of the Lakers’ original superstars and a true pioneer of modern basketball.
His athleticism, hang time and scoring ability were particular standouts at that point in time and helped him become the cornerstone of the team’s early success after the move to Los Angeles in 1960.
Baylor averaged 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 843 games for the Lakers and holds the record for most points in an NBA Finals game with 61, while ChatGPT called him a pioneer of above-the-rim play.
“Pioneered above-the-rim play. Though he never won a title, Baylor was ahead of his time in athleticism and scoring. Consistently carried the Lakers in the early days.”
5 Shaquille O’Neal
3x NBA Champion (with Lakers), 1x MVP
Arguably the most dominant NBA player of all time, Shaquille O’Neal joined the Lakers in 1996 as a free agent and immediately transformed the team into a title contender.
Shaq led the Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002 alongside Kobe Bryant and won three straight Finals MVP awards during that period.
His 2000 season was one of the most dominant in league history, as he was named regular season MVP and led the league in scoring, while, according to AI, his and Kobe’s duo was one of the most unstoppable in NBA history.
“Most dominant big man of his era. Shaq and Kobe formed one of the most unstoppable duos in NBA history. Peak Shaq (2000–2002) was nearly unstoppable.”
4 Jerry West
1x NBA Champion, 10x All-NBA First Team
Jerry West was the face of the Lakers throughout the 1960s and early 1970s and spent his entire 14-season career with the franchise, averaging 27.0 points, 6.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds in 932 games.
Despite reaching the Finals nine times as a Laker, West only won the title once in 1972 alongside Wilt Chamberlain, while ChatGPT praised his clutch performances and ‘unmatched’ leadership.
“‘The Logo’ was a model of consistency and clutch performances. Despite multiple Finals losses, his talent and leadership were unmatched. He also became a successful executive for the Lakers post-playing.”
West’s silhouette became the inspiration for the NBA logo, while his legacy as a Laker extends beyond his playing days – he spent three seasons coaching the team from 1976 to 1979 and later worked as a general manager for almost two decades.
3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5x NBA Champion (with Lakers), 3x MVP
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined the Lakers in 1975 after a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks and went on to cement his legacy as one of the greatest centers in NBA history.
Known for his signature skyhook, he helped lead the Lakers to five championships in the 1980s and was named MVP three times – adding to his collection of six (including three with Milwaukee)
“Dominant for over a decade with the Lakers. His skyhook and consistency made him an anchor during the Showtime run. Had more MVPs than any other Laker.”
Abdul-Jabbar averaged 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 1,093 games for the Lakers and was also named Finals MVP in 1985 at the age of 38.
He developed into a relentless competitor and an elite scorer during his time in Los Angeles, winning five NBA titles, earning 18 All-Star selections, 15 All-NBA selections and a league MVP in 2008.
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Kobe averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 1,346 games in the purple and gold uniform and scored 81 points in a single game in 2006 – the second-highest in league history.
“Spent entire 20-year career with the Lakers. His work ethic, killer instinct, and iconic moments (like 81 points vs. Raptors) made him a legend. No Laker has scored more points in purple and gold.”
1 Magic Johnson
5x NBA Champion, 3x MVP
Ultimately, AI named Magic Johnson as the greatest Lakers player of all time and praised him for revolutionising the point guard role with his size and unmatched vision.
“The face of the “Showtime” era, Magic revolutionized the point guard position with his size and vision. His leadership and clutch performances defined the 1980s Lakers dynasty. Arguably the most important Laker in terms of branding and winning.”
Johnson is regarded as arguably the greatest point guard in NBA history and was a leader of the Lakers during their iconic Showtime era, winning five championships, three league MVPs and a Finals MVP as a rookie in 1980.
He spent his entire 13-year NBA career with the Lakers, averaging 19.5 points, 11.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in 906 games.
