The legendary trio of “Rudduckers” finally did it.
Considered one of the greatest dream teams of all time, the USA Men’s National Basketball Team defeated France 98-87 in the men’s basketball final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France, on Nov. 11 (ET).
It was the 17th title for the United States in Olympic history. It was the fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Steph Curry (24 points, eight 3-pointers) hit four straight 3-pointers in a fourth-quarter game-winner, while LeBron James (14 points, 10 assists) and Kevin Durant (15 points) led the way.
France was led by alien Victor Wembanyama (26 points), but could not overcome the American wall.
Host nation France and Dream Team USA. The men’s basketball final was close throughout.
After taking a 20-15 lead in the first quarter, Team USA allowed France to come back in the second quarter. The defense let up for a moment, and France’s outside three-point shooting, which has been on fire since the quarterfinals, caught fire.
However, the U.S. picked up the offensive tempo again, with Durant and Curry hitting back-to-back 3-pointers, and ended the period with an eight-point lead, 49-41.
France was not to be denied.
Nande de Colo, Wembanyama, and Evan Fournier took turns hitting three-pointers from beyond the arc to pull within 10 points.
In the fourth quarter, it was Wembanyama who shined. Curry made a mistake, and France continued to pull away with their trademark transition, 파워볼실시간 strong defense, and organized offense.
Most notably, with 3:04 left in the game, Wembanyama grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a two-pointer to cut the deficit to three points, 79-82.
Then, Curry stepped up to the plate. Off a pass from James, Curry hit a three-pointer, forcing Wembanyama to attempt a three-pointer, which he missed.
Then, with 1:52 left, Curry hit another 3-pointer to seal the game, and after Nicolas Batum hit a 3-pointer, Curry answered with another 3-pointer 24 seconds later.
Curry, who hit four 3-pointers in the closing minutes, proved to be the game’s best finisher, hitting back-to-back shoulder shakes and a nightcap.
Team USA has been a spectacular force at the Olympics.
James, who is nearing the end of his career, began soliciting the league’s top superstars last year to join him in France, and the result was the most colorful Dream Team since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Curry, Durant, and Anthony Davis were among the early signees. With the league’s top stars united, this Dream Team was a crowning glory. Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, and the rest of the NBA’s top players joined the team, including Joel Embiid, who was hesitant between France and the United States.
In the five exhibition games, the U.S. won all five and went on to win the Olympics. In their one-point victory over South Sudan, Team USA showed weaknesses in defense and transition. The Olympic Games were a different story, however, as the team dominated from preliminary rounds, struggled against Serbia in the quarterfinals, and eventually won gold.
James, who led the formation of the U.S. Dream Team, won the gold medal 16 years after winning the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a “lead team” (meaning to resurrect the Dream Team and start over).
James’ Olympic victory added another honor to his resume. He added another accomplishment to his resume while still in the midst of the GOAT debate with Michael Jordan.
