The United States men’s basketball team secured their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal, defeating host nation France 98-87 in the final of the Paris 2024 Games.
Steph Curry led the American team with a stellar performance, scoring 24 points including eight three-pointers, three of which came in the crucial final moments of the fourth quarter.
The victory showcased the USA’s continued dominance in international basketball, with strong contributions from veteran players and rising stars alike.
LeBron James, in potentially his final Olympic appearance at age 39, added 14 points to the team’s tally. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each contributed 15 points, underlining the team’s depth and firepower.
France, playing on home soil, put up a strong challenge led by Victor Wembanyama, who scored a game-high 26 points. However, the French team couldn’t contain the USA’s potent offense, particularly from beyond the arc, where the Americans shot an impressive 18-for-36.
The quarter-by-quarter score breakdown was as follows:
– Q1: France 15, USA 20
– Q2: France 26, USA 29
– Q3: France 25, USA 23
– Q4: France 21, USA 26
– Final: France 87, USA 98
This marks France’s fourth silver medal in Olympic men’s basketball, having previously lost to the USA in the gold medal games of 1948, 2000, 2020, and now 2024.
The victory not only cements the USA’s status in Olympic basketball but also potentially signals a changing of the guard.
As LeBron James concludes his Olympic career with three gold medals, attention turns to the next generation of NBA stars, including Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker, who are poised to lead the team into the 2028 Olympics.
Steph Curry’s clutch performance in the final minutes, hitting three consecutive three-pointers, exemplified his reputation as one of basketball’s greatest shooters and secured the victory for the United States.
This gold medal adds another chapter to the USA’s storied Olympic basketball history, maintaining their position at the pinnacle of the sport on the international stage.
