US basketballer scoffs at Australians

Sydney: The United States have pushed another thorn into a deep Australian team wound in a thinly veiled attack on four of their former NBA players, saying they did not have the skill or tenacity to last in America's NBA.

Jason Kidd, a point guard for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA, stoked the fire between the two nations after underdogs Canada caused the first upset on Monday in the Olympic basketball.

Canada defeated Australia 101-90 in their opening Group 'B' match in the preliminary rounds, leaving the shocked medal contenders in a precarious position as they prepare to face reigning world champions Yugoslavia on Tuesday.

While Kidd did not name the Australian players, three of their starting lineup - Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal and Mark Bradtke - and reserve centre Paul Rogers had short stints in the NBA.

"There's been guys who have come from Australia to play in the NBA and there's been a lot of hoo ha when they first arrive but they don't last too long and they don't get off the bench," Kidd told reporters after the US team smashed China 119-72.

The animosity between the Americans and Australians has been simmering since a warm-up match in Melbourne nine days ago where Vince Carter and Gaze were briefly locked in a wrestling match.

After Carter and Gaze had freed themselves, Heal escalated the tension by intervening with a barrage of expletives directed at Carter and then shoved the Toronto Raptors' guard.

"I had told everybody that Canada was going to beat Australia," Kidd said. "Canada is a very good team and I'm glad Steve Nash and them beat Australia."



(c) Reuters Limited.