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| AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Pool |
Team USA's men’s basketball team secured its fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal on Saturday, overcoming a determined French squad with a 98-87 victory.
Stephen Curry led the charge with 24 points, sealing the win in the final minute of what had been a thrilling back-and-forth contest at Paris’ Bercy Arena.
Despite holding a 14-point lead at one point, the Americans found themselves ahead by just six points going into the fourth quarter. The gap narrowed further in the final minutes, with France coming within three points, setting up a tense finish.
“We just kept our composure,” said LeBron James post-game. “We’ve faced tough situations throughout the tournament, including a tight game against Serbia. We knew we’d get everyone’s best effort, so it was all about staying calm and willing our way to victory.”
As the game reached its climax, it was Curry who took command. The greatest three-point shooter in NBA history drained four critical three-pointers in the closing minutes, capping off his first Olympics with a performance that left the French team reeling.
For the host nation, it was a bittersweet end to a strong tournament that saw them defeat Canada and Germany on their way to the final. French fans, who had been passionately supporting their athletes throughout the Games, created an electric atmosphere in Bercy Arena. Even in the final moments, as Curry sealed their fate, the crowd responded with a mixture of shock, awe, and heartbreak. They could take solace in the fact that it required Curry's brilliance to overcome them.
The game was a high-octane affair from the start, with both teams trading leads and refusing to back down. The French took their final lead during an 8-0 run in the second quarter, but Devin Booker quickly restored the advantage for Team USA with a three-pointer. From that point on, the Americans never trailed again.
There were, however, moments of drama, particularly when Guerschon Yabusele posterized LeBron James with a powerful dunk late in the second quarter, sending the French fans into a frenzy. A buzzer-beater to end the half left the USA with an eight-point lead.
France struggled to find their rhythm at the start of the third quarter, allowing the USA to stretch their lead to 14 points. The interplay between James, Curry, and Kevin Durant was a sight to behold, as three of the NBA's biggest stars played with full intensity, unlike the more relaxed pace of an All-Star Game.
James, donning golden sneakers, had several moments where he looked ready to take over the game, as he had so often during this Olympic run. But France, led by Victor Wembanyama, who scored 26 points, mounted a comeback, cutting the US lead to six points heading into the final quarter.
As the pace quickened and the tension heightened in the fourth quarter, the quality of play dipped, but France refused to go quietly, staying within striking distance. With their trademark stifling defense, they managed to close the gap to just three points.
“France found something in their last couple of games, changing their rotation and starting lineup, and being physical at every position,” said USA coach Steve Kerr. “They did a great job putting pressure on us in the fourth quarter, and it felt like we were on the verge of pulling away, but we just couldn’t get there.”
But when it mattered most, Curry stepped up. French coach Vincent Collet will likely lose sleep wondering how his team allowed the best shooter of his generation so many open looks in the crucial moments of such an important game. Opposing coaches throughout the tournament have faced a tough choice, deciding which of Team USA’s stars to focus on.
“It’s not by chance that they perform like this down the stretch. Watching the work Durant, Curry, and the others put in day after day is truly impressive,” added Kerr.
In the end, Curry’s shots were devastating. He pounded his chest, shouting into the night and proudly displaying “USA” on his jersey to all corners of the arena. For Curry, in a career filled with iconic moments, this one will be remembered as simply golden.
“Obviously, I knew it would be a tough challenge facing great teams, and there’s a sense of relief at the end,” Curry reflected on his Olympics experience. “But it’s more a sense of accomplishment, knowing what we were able to achieve.”
Standing on the podium, he declared, “I’m having the best time of my life because, you know, this might not come around again.”
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