The drama over who got left off the roster, who was a clunky fit during exhibition play and who should or shouldn’t get minutes will all get lost to history. Because Team USA — led by Steph Curry — is undeniable.
After reaching back deep for an epic comeback win over Serbia in the semifinals, the American men’s national team defeated France for the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
Warriors icon Steph Curry, playing in his first-ever Olympics, is a gold medalist and a tournament hero. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr helped lead him and the rest of Team USA there — to the top of the podium.
LeBron James who tipped off the Olympic Games as the U.S.’ flag-bearer, leading America through the pouring rain on the Seine river, registered 14 points and nine assists. Devin Booker, a player who embodied the sacrifice and role-embracing this collection of talent required, scored 15 points.
And Curry, who exploded in the semis with the best performance of the tournament, drained three 3-pointers in the last two minutes, including the “night-night” exclamation point over two defenders. He finished with a team-high 24 points on 8-for-13 shooting from 3.
It wasn’t easy, but Team USA defeated France in the gold medal game, 98-87. What many regard as the most talented men’s national team since the 1992 Dream Team did their job, with Curry flaunting the American flag after the final horn.
“This ranks very high in terms of the excitement and the sense of relief of getting to the finish line,” Curry said in his postgame on-court interview.”
James blocked a shot, steamrolled to the basket and threw a behind-the-back dime in the opening quarter to set the tone. Jayson Tatum, a high-profile DNP for several Olympic matchups, got early minutes against France’s supersized front court.
France hung tough, keeping the game tight, but didn’t look quite as comfortable as Serbia — which led by as much as 17 — did in the semis.
A banked 3 and Bilal Coulibaly dunk put France ahead early in the second quarter.
Curry and James, the two most decorated players of the past 15 years, led a response. Curry canned a triple and then found Bam Adebayo for a jam before James went coast-to-coast.
France didn’t relent. Guerschon Yabusele, the former Celtics draft pick, posterized James with a thunderous dunk. Yabusele logged 15 first-half points, closing Team USA’s lead to 49-41 at halftime.
The second half continued to teeter. Curry sank a pair of 3s, freeing himself with off-ball movement and pump fakes. France played Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama together, shrinking the court.
Wembanyama reached 20 points with a 3-pointer, preventing the U.S. from gaining separation. James and Evan Fournier traded 3s and France closed with five straight points to enter the fourth down 72-66.
Anthony Davis counterbalanced France’s bigs, protecting the rim and making an impact on the offensive glass. The defense on both ends ramped up even more in the fourth quarter, turning the game ugly.
A Curry turnover with 3:40 left allowed France to cut America’s lead to 82-77, then 82-79. But Curry responded with a 3 at the top of the arc, giving Team USA breathing room. Then a trio of Curry 3s — each more impossible than the last — with under two minutes left put the game out of reach.
“The avalanche came,” Curry said.
Curry’s high-arcing third iced the game and let every American, for at least a moment, feel what Warriors fans have felt for years: the jubilance of the greatest shooter of all time making unimaginable shots reality.
“For me to get a gold medal is insane, and I thank God for the opportunity to experience it,” Curry said.
