INDIANAPOLIS (USA) - The United States missed out on making history as the first country to ever win three straight FIBA Basketball World Cups but also finished short of the podium.

Anyone would be dead wrong, however, in thinking the USA players did not relish the experience of taking part in the first-ever 32-team World Cup.

They'd be wrong in believing that the Americans, who made the journey to China for the World Cup did not consider it a privilege of a lifetime to wear the red, white and blue. Myles Turner, the Indiana Pacers center who led the NBA in blocked shots last season, certainly loved it.

"Unbelievable experience," Turner said in an interview with the Athletic. "You're one of 12 guys who gets to do it. Not everybody can finish their NBA career and say they played for Team USA on any level. To be out there was big for me."

Turner, 24, had 14 blocks at the World Cup. That was behind only Tunisia's Salah Mejri, who had 16, and France's Rudy Gobert who had 15. 

What Turner noted, as have many of his countrymen in the past, is that international basketball is a tough man's game and it served as excellent preparation for the coming NBA season.

"UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE. YOU'RE ONE OF 12 GUYS WHO GETS TO DO IT. NOT EVERYBODY CAN FINISH THEIR NBA CAREER AND SAY THEY PLAYED FOR TEAM USA ON ANY LEVEL. TO BE OUT THERE WAS BIG FOR ME."- Myles Turner

"It's more physical and different set of rules," he said. "So, to be able to play on both sides of the ball, within that rule set, I think it upped my ante a little bit."

What also stood out for Turner was the passion in the crowd. It's something he'll never forget, especially in the USA's second game of the tournament against Turkey. The Americans won that one, 93-92, after a pair of Khris Middleton free-throws with two seconds remaining in overtime.

"Literally the entire crowd was cheering against us," Turner said. "Usually, wherever you go, they're chanting for USA, the dunks, the oohs, the ahhs. Like, all the Chinese fans were doing the Turkey chants. They were booing every time we scored. It was something I'd never seen before.

"And then once they started to take the lead and had a chance to win it, it got so loud in there. It was unbelievable. Once Khris Middleton hit those two free throws, you could hear a pin drop in there. Everybody was pissed; they wanted us to lose that bad. Being a part of that atmosphere kind of changed my perspective on things, how different Team USA is now and how much the world is trying to catch up."

Turner will never forget the noise from the crowd when USA faced Turkey

A testament to how much much Turner enjoyed donning the USA shirt is that he's already putting his hand up to play at the Olympics, something his national team will do by virtue of claiming one of the top two finishes for teams from the Americas. Beaten finalists Argentina also sealed a place in Tokyo.

"Hopefully I'll be a part of those conversations," Turner said."It's definitely something I want to commit myself to. If I'm given the invitation, I'm going to take it without hesitation."

FIBA