Since the announcement of the USA basketball team roster for the Olympics, they have been the clear favorites for gold. This squad, often compared to the 1992 Dream Team, is led by veterans LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. They’ve met expectations so far, advancing to the gold medal game against host nation France after a narrow 95-91 victory over Serbia and Nikola Jokic.
Stephen “God-like” Curry
Phoenix Suns’ star Kevin Durant also praised his former Golden State teammate, Steph Curry, calling his performance “godlike.” Curry, who was undoubtedly the MVP of the game, scored 38 points and grabbed eight rebounds, keeping the USA in contention throughout. This is Curry’s first Olympic appearance, and despite missing out on previous tournaments, he is making the most of it. This game will surely rank among his top career performances, given how he single-handedly kept the team alive during the first three quarters when they trailed.
The USA faces France for the gold medal tomorrow, in a rematch of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics final. While the home crowd will be rooting for France, the USA remains the clear favorite. However, with the support of the fans and strong defense, France, led by Victor Wembanyama, could pose a challenge. Notably, France has benched four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in their last two games. Though the USA is favored to win, anything can happen in a final, especially with France’s solid defense that took down world champions Germany and Canada on their way to the final.
Kevin Durant and patriotism
Kevin Durant, the all-time leading scorer in Olympic history, had an off night with just nine points. However, he stepped up in the clutch, hitting a crucial basket with just over 30 seconds left in the game. Durant, who is eyeing a record fourth Olympic gold, surpassing Carmelo Anthony’s three, shared his thoughts post-game, stating, “A lot of bullshit happens in our country, but a lot of great things happen, too.” Despite the pressure, Durant didn’t shy away from engaging with fans on social media post-game, continuing his tradition of speaking his mind.
