"Worst starting 5 you could possibly create", "This why he has no rings": Fans react harshly to Carmelo Anthony's Team USA starting 5 choices

NBA legend and former U.S. men's basketball team member Carmelo Anthony chimed in on who should be the starting five for Team USA in the Paris Olympics. Fans did not agree with his choices and took him to task on social media.

'Melo' was a recent visitor to Team USA's practice at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and was asked who his choices were for starting five.

Anthony said he was going for youth and picked Tyrese Haliburton, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo. He then shared that LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Steph Curry and Jrue Holiday would come off the bench.

Many fans did not agree with Anthony's choices and made their thoughts known. Below are what some of them posted on X, formerly Twitter:

"This might be the worst starting 5 you could possible create out of the roster," wrote a fan.

One fan, meanwhile, used Anthony's choices to point out his failure to win an NBA title, saying:

"This why Carmelo has no rings."

Another was surprised with his choices, given his status as an Olympian:

"3x Olympic gold medalist lol"

There were some, meanwhile, who were left scratching their heads with his starting five choices.

"'You don't know ball," one wrote.

Another fan chimed in:

"Lmaooo Melo lost his damn mind."

Still another:

"That 5 lost"

However, some fans were not totally critical of Carmelo Anthony and found some sense in his choices.

"He has a valid reason tho, start with the young guys, fresh legs then Bron KD Steph gonna pick up the pace and run with it game over," an analytical fan wrote.

"Everybody he name made it so you just talking," added another one.

Also part of Team USA are Anthony Davis and Derrick White, a late replacement for Kawhi Leonard.

Team USA hits the road on its way to the Paris Olympic Games

Team USA hit the road on Wednesday on its way to the Paris Olympic Games beginning later this month, where it will hope to defend its gold medal.

The squad of NBA superstars played Canada in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the first of five tune-up games.

Next up is a game on July 15 against Australia in Abu Dhabi, UAE, followed by Serbia on July 17, South Sudan on July 20 (London, United Kingdom), and Germany on July 22.

The U.S. will begin its Olympic campaign in Group C, where it is lumped with South Sudan, Serbia and Puerto Rico.

It plays Serbia first on July 28, then South Sudan on July 31 and Puerto Rico on Aug. 3.

LeBron James (LA Lakers), Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors) and Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns) lead Team USA. They are joined by Anthony Davis (Lakers), Devin Booker (Phoenix), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), and Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics).