South Sudan makes history with Olympic basketball debut
Landmark performance for young nation
Team stuns Puerto Rico in first ever Olympic victory
The Olympic debut of the South Sudan men's basketball team was a rousing success on and off the floor. South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, has never qualified for the Olympics in any sport before. The team's performance comes less than a year after South Sudan joined the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
South Sudan's basketball team is on a meteoric rise. The team is currently ranked 33rd in the FIBA World Ranking Men presented by Nike. In their first ever Olympic game, South Sudan stunned Puerto Rico 90-79, and earned the first ever Olympic victory for the country.
The South Sudan team is led by 22-year-old Thon Maker, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA. Maker was born in South Sudan but moved to the United States as a child. He is one of several South Sudanese players who have played in the NBA.
The South Sudan team's success is a major inspiration for the people of the country. South Sudan has been plagued by civil war and poverty for much of its history. The team's success is a symbol of hope and unity for the people of South Sudan.
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