The United States team won the final of the Paris 2024 basketball tournament this evening (Saturday) when they defeated the host France 87:98. This is the 17th Olympic gold medal for the United States and its fifth in a row, and it comes after the disappointment in the World Championship and the mobilization of a series of stars from the NBA who together established the “Dream Team” model 2024.
Unlike the original Dream Team, the one that cruised to lightweight gold in 1992, the United States’ road to the Paris 2024 Olympic tournament certainly wasn’t easy. In fact, for many stages in the semi-finals against Serbia and tonight’s final, it was not at all certain that the Olympic gold would return to America. Three minutes to the end, the Dream Team’s lead was reduced to only 79:82, and France’s path to home gold seemed more realistic than ever. In a parallel world – where there is no Steph Kerry – it might also have ended in a historic victory for the host.
In the world we are in there is Steph Curry and he wears the blue uniform of the United States. If it wasn’t clear how lucky the Americans have been due to that fact thus far, he made sure to mention it with a three that widened the gap with two and a half minutes to go; then one more, two minutes to go; And one more, a minute and a half to go; And finally at the end one last one, half a minute to the end, which raised the American gap to 87:96 and practically sealed the match.
Beyond Kerry’s contribution in the decisive moments and his 24 points in total, the United States enjoyed 15 points from Phoenix players Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, 14 from LeBron James and eight points along with nine rebounds from Anthony Davis. On the other side, 26 points from Victor Wombanayama and 20 from Gershon Yabusela – including a poster-dunk on James – were not enough for France to achieve a surprising victory.
