TThe U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team won its fifth straight Olympic gold medal Saturday night at Bercy Arena, defeating France 98-87 in front of a raucous hometown crowd. The game was a rematch of the gold medal game in Tokyo three years ago, and once again, France was unable to match the American firepower, which is filled with future basketball Hall of Famers.
Stephen Curry led a balanced U.S. attack with 24 points, including four crucial 3-pointers late in the game. He simply took control of the game. Curry finished 8-3 on the night and enjoyed every moment to shatter France’s dashed dreams.
Team USA has continued its run of world domination on the men’s side since losing two preliminary round games at the Athens Olympics – including a decisive loss to Puerto Rico – and falling in the semifinals to Argentina. The USA won the bronze medal at these Games and then renewed the program, making the country’s best players commit to competing in global competitions regularly. This is LeBron James’ third Olympic gold medal. Kevin Durant, the leader of all time Olympic scorer in US history, now has four. That’s an all-time Olympic record for a male player.
This Olympic gold, however, is a first for Stephen Curry, the two-time NBA MVP and four-time NBA champion who revolutionized basketball with his long-range jump shot. Curry was crucial to the team’s thrilling 95-91 comeback win against Serbia, going 9 of 14 from long range on Thursday and sinking two free throws with 8 seconds left to seal the victory.
“I understood the moment, what’s at stake and the uncomfortable nature of being down for much of the game and having, you know, 10 minutes to come back,” Curry said after the game.
“I went into this experience thinking this would be the only time I would play in the Olympics and experience the stage,” Curry said. “So that was part of my feeling of relief and joy. I don’t want to be on the first team since 2004 that didn’t make it to the gold medal game and win the gold medal. My only opportunity is here. These things you think about while still trying to have fun playing the game you know.”
Throughout the Olympic tournament, Team USA adopted a next-man-up mentality, whether it was leaning on Durant to make 8 straight shots against Serbia in the opening game, or Curry to help rescue the USA from the semifinals with his hustle. , after struggling to shoot with his normal effectiveness for most of his time in France. James recorded a triple-double – 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists – against Serbia in the semis.
“There’s pressure,” Curry said. “Whoever the group of 12 players is, we are all here to win. We are all giving up a lot of time during the summers. We understand the pride of representing your country. We understand expectations. So there are a lot of similar ideas that, honestly, we don’t even need to talk about.”
Saturday’s victory also gives American Joel Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, a measure of satisfaction. During these Games, Embiid, who was born in Cameroon but has citizenship in the US and France, was questioned by French fans over his decision to play for the US and not the host country. Nothing changed on Saturday: Bercy Arena fans were delighted when young French phenom Victor Wembenyama, for example, took the ball away from Embiid as he tried to shoot in the first quarter.
“They’re going to boo me. I’m going to come back to them and tell them to suck it up,” Embiid said before Saturday’s gold medal game.
On Friday, Curry was asked about the outcome of the comeback that allowed Team USA to compete for and ultimately win the Olympic title. “The whole fourth quarter was unreal,” Curry said. “I’m sure so, when we have a medal around our necks, gold, tomorrow you will be able to remember all this.”
Let the memories begin.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
