By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After a disappointing campaign during the previous FIBA World Cup Championships, the USA men’s national basketball team transcended its status as kings of hoops after clinching its fifth consecutive gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 11, 2024.
Team USA overcame a hostile environment and took down the host country France during the gold medal game, 98-87, behind another spectacular collective effort from their superstars.
Playing in his first-ever Olympic campaign, Golden State Warriors franchise player Stephen Curry savored the moment and once again came up clutch for the Americans, dropping 24 big points built from 8/13 shooting from the three-point territory.
Curry saved the best for last during Team USA’s last two games as he erupted for 36 points in the semifinals against Serbia and went over the 20-point mark again when his squad needed him in the most important game of the Summer Global Games.
It was a see-saw battle as France didn’t go away everytime Team USA snowballed to a huge scoring run, countering back with their own offensive avalanche that kept themselves within striking distance.
Team USA built a double-digit lead and protected it for three minutes but the gold-seeking French national team bounced back in the final frame that trimmed their deficit to just three points in the final three minutes of the championship game.
With the game on the line and Team USA needing instant offense to silence the wild French crowd, Curry embraced the bright lights for the second time in three days and torched France after hitting four clutch three-pointers that helped them secure a comfortable lead en route to this edition’s gold medal.
In the final 2:47 of the game, Curry converted a long bomb that ballooned Team USA’s lead back to six points, 85-79. During their next two offensive possessions, Steve Kerr ran plays to free him up and the NBA’s All-Time leader in three-point makes didn’t disappoint as he made two more that pumped up the Americans in attendance.
Victor Wembanyama tried to revive France’s hopes after drilling a clutch trey that pulled them to within six points but Curry dealt them the final blow after slicing and dicing through the opponent’s perimeter defense to sink a contested looping three in the final 39 seconds of the game.
With time no longer in France’s favor, Team USA celebrated and officially bagged their fifth consecutive gold medal in the Olympics.
Backstopping Curry during their gold medal win was LeBron James who almost notched another triple-double after finishing 14 markers, 10 dimes, and six rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns 1-2 punch of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker flaunted their offensive brilliance and scored 15 points apiece for Team USA.
On the other hand, Wembanyama gave his all during France’s final game and top-scored his squad with 26 points and seven rebounds while power forward Guerschon Yabusele added 20 markers.
