Aug 26th, 2019

Aug 26th, 2019

NBA star Brook Lopez didn't do too much on the court in USA's 84-68 win over Canada in their FIBA World Cup warm-up game in Sydney, but he was the talk of Monday night after getting a rockstar reception from the crowd.

It might have even bullied him into considering a later career move to the NBL as a result.

After a devastating and historic loss to Australia's Boomers in Melbourne, USA came out aggressive and with a point to prove against Canada. They rebounded better, were stubborn in defence and still showed a little flair, as Jaylen Brown had a team-high 19 points, with Donovan Mitchell and Kemba Walker finishing close behind with 12. Myles Turner was a standout on both ends with 10 points as well as 15 rebounds.

But it wasn't the young gun, aforementioned NBA names that the 15,155 in attendance at Qudos Bank Arena were most smitten with - it was Milwaukee Bucks centre, Lopez.

Brook Lopez was amused by his reception in the USA vs Canada game in Sydney (AAP)

The 31-year old veteran that made a name for himself with the Nets, with a brief stint at the Lakers before joining the Bucks in 2018, was an obvious fan favourite. So intense was the adoration from the Sydney crowd, it had him considering Australia as a destination when his career in the NBA is over.

"That love it was unreal," Lopez said after the game.

"I'll have to text Boges [Andrew Bogut] and ask what the professional league is like out here. Maybe come out here and do it with him."

Lopez recently signed a four-year $US52 million ($A76.7m) contract extension with the Bucks, so Australian basketball fans may have to wait some time if he ever did decide to play here, but the 2013 All-Star's hint was not missed by the Kings.

Lopez also embraced his role as Australia's new Prime Minister.

"I guess that's a big responsibility but I hope I'm up for the challenge, but it seems the people have spoken," he joked with reporters.

"I don't honestly [know what led to the crowd's reaction].

"I was hoping that they'd keep Pop [USA coach Gregg Popovich] happy. He was trying to fight it a little bit."

Lopez came on for the first time in the third quarter to a huge roar, and when he went up for a close-range jumper - which he missed - the crowd let out a collective gasp that might've been the biggest roar of the night.

But there was more to come.

He was pulled before the end of the third quarter and when he came back on with less than five minutes left in the fourth, the crowd again erupted in sheer joy. One fan from the cheap seats was heard yelling, "We love you Brook!"

With Lopez's every by no-means flash touch of the ball the fans were oohing and ahhing with glee.

When coach Popovich subbed him off very late in the game the arena let out a massive boo. They were booing the man some consider the greatest NBA coach of all time, for pulling Brook Robert Lopez with mere minutes left in a the game seemingly already won with the USA holding a comfortable lead.

Soon the fans were chanting "We want Lopez!" followed by "Loooo-pezzzz". Mason Plumlee was then booed as he took his tracksuit off and readied himself to come on.

Brook Lopez (right) of the USA sits on the bench during the Pre-FIBA World Cup series match between Canada and the USA at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (AAP)

Never could anyone have predicted the level of admiration Lopez was receiving in the game. Fans jumped on the Lopez-loving bandwagon and the cheers snowballed.

The arena MC appeared to realise the obvious fan favourite and put Lopez up on the big-screen, which only lit up the crowd even more. Lopez and his teammates Mitchell and Tatum sitting beside him looked just as amused and baffled as everyone else.

Such was the fanfare that Popovich, one of the prickliest characters in the NBA, even started playing up to the crowd. He motioned over to the bench where Lopez sat, prompting a massive cheer, only to pretend to sub on Mitchell, which then got laughing boos.

In the final minute of the game, the definition of garbage time, Popovich gave the people what they wanted, and Lopez walked on the court, shrugging in disbelief at his reception. "MVP, MVP, MVP" was screamed by the fans.

As the final seconds ticked away and USA ran out the clock the fans desperately wanted to see Lopez take a late shot to end a strange, but highly entertaining quarter, but there was to be no further theatrics.

The reasons for Lopez's overwhelming reception was nothing short of peculiar, not least because he finished with 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block in a total of just six minutes on the court.

"What the hell was that all about?" a bemused Popovich asked reporters post-game.

"We were trying to keep our focus because we don't want to do anything silly but it got so ridiculous we finally succumbed to the crowd."

US media were stunned at Lopez's popularity in Australia.

Brook Lopez (right) of the USA with Donovan Mitchell (AAP)

Lopez said his time in Australia had been "incredible" and promoted the idea of the NBA to play games here, revealing that he and his USA teammates were talking about the possibility post-game.

"It's so huge and it's so important to keep that momentum going," Lopez said.

"That's the one thing we were talking about in the locker room after this game. We were just like, 'Wow, basketball has a chance to be a really big thing here'.

"It's grown a lot in the last decade or so. You've had a lot of great, talented players.

"I think it's time for the NBA to come out and play games here, in pre-season, regular season, whatever it is, and keep building and growing the game out here. It's something special."

The USA now travel to China to finalise their World Cup preparations before their Group E opener in Shanghai against Czech Republic on September 1, followed by Turkey on September 3 and Japan on September 5.

"For us to respond the way we did was big time, it's all about the bounce back," Walker said, referencing USA's loss to the Boomers on the weekend in Melbourne.

"Tonight was another good lesson for them to realise what the mindset has to be be going into these games," Popovich said.

"There's a lot of improvement we can make I think. We've got good potential there if we continue to to execute better than we are now. We competed, that wasn't a problem but skill execution takes time."

Canada meanwhile found themselves needing much reflection after Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse described their performance as "s---ty".

"I don't think we played very well tonight," Nurse said in the press conference after their defeat.

"I think it was energy and concentration lacking on our part. We didn't play well.

"Maybe it was a good night to be s---ty. We'll just flush this one away and get back to what we're doing. I think our guys have made a lot of strides and got a lot of chemistry."