The American basketball players bring their Olympic mission to a golden end. In the final, France is defeated. However, the path to their fifth consecutive triumph and 17th overall is more arduous than expected. But the USA has the best shooter of all time.
Stephen Curry made the “Good Night” gesture one last time. With 34 seconds left on the clock, a shot from him sailed through the hoop in a high arc. The American basketball giants were leading by nine points against desperate France. Although the host team never really had a hand on the gold medal. But it was a bit like the donkey and the carrot. The prospect of achieving something historic, gigantic, perhaps the biggest sensation of these Olympic Games, really got them moving. But the carrot, gold, remained unattainable. Because superstar Curry found his inner Steph again. And that is terrible news for all teams in the world. With one exception: for their own.
The Olympic basketball final electrified the world. After the men’s 100-meter sprint, the eternal highlight of the games, all eyes were now on the Bercy Arena. There, the most star-studded basketball tournament of all time came to an end. With perhaps the best team ever assembled based on individual talent. The USA had called their “Avengers,” reminiscent of Marvel’s superhero gatherings, and no one had refused their loud call. LeBron James was there, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, who is now despised in France, and of course Curry. Such a spectacle had never been seen before. Not even in 1992, when the first “Dream Team” enchanted the world in Barcelona. With Michael Jordan, “Magic Johnson,” and all the others.
Victor Wembanyama delivered an outstanding performance.
(Photo: AP)
One of them was also Scottie Pippen, the legend of the Chicago Bulls. And he didn’t want to miss the spectacle. He wanted to see the gold show of his successors. Just like Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, and so many others. In the stands, there was the biggest gathering of stars at these games. Even the dramatic gymnastics party of Simone Biles attracted less prominence than this duel, which was so crystal clear in its implications. Hardly anyone, perhaps no one outside the French basketball cosmos had thought a sensation was possible. The Americans had been too good at least until the quarter-finals, before they needed a gigantic effort against Serbia a round later. But well, the Serbs also had Nikola Jokić, currently the best player in the world, with a strong team around him, which previously took bronze from Germany as a warm-up for the gold game.
LeBron James opens with a monster dunk
The French themselves had played a tournament that left many questions open. The preliminary round had actually been a disaster. In their last group game, they were dismantled by Germany and then did the same to themselves. There was a heavy clash within the team, and the playing style of coach Vincent Collet was attacked. A curious drama unfolded around the finger of NBA rebounder Rudy Gobert. But suddenly something changed. First, the incredibly strong Canada was knocked out, then there was revenge on Germany. Both games were won by France with ruthless defense, while the offense remained sluggish. But the old saying about defense making you a champion is indeed timelessly true.
The spectacle kicked off with a thunderous dunk from LeBron James. France opened up the corridor to the basket, and a four-time NBA champion and 20-time All-Star naturally said only one thing: Merci! The giant was wearing golden footwear. A statement: no doubts about the success of the mission. But the game went back and forth vigorously. Also because France’s wonderkid Victor “Wemby” Wembanyama intended to at least annoy the Americans, if not embarrass them. Time and again, the ball landed in the hands of the 2.24-meter “alien” and from there in the basket. The arena shook, “Wemby” pushed, and the Americans responded as expected. With spectacle. James connected behind the back with a no-look pass to the extremely noticeable Devin Booker, who effortlessly finished. Oh, what a delight.
No one flies as beautifully as LeBron James.
(Photo: AP)
But the game also had its lulls because the US boys weren’t hitting consistently. Curry started the game with a 0-for-3 streak from the three-point line. Durant also couldn’t find his “touch.” And the French worked like crazy, making many easy mistakes. But they had “Wemby” in superb form and Guerschon Yabusele, who once tried unsuccessfully in the NBA but now became an unstoppable beast. In the second quarter, he posterized James with a monster dunk. That displeased the NBA giant. France narrowed the gap to five points. The game was full of runs. Until the final phase, and it really packed a punch.
Curry gets hot, as only Curry can
Five minutes before the end, there was a bang thanks to James. The bench celebrated and jeered. The US boys were up by ten points. The gold mission was on the verge of completion. But France countered; with three minutes to go, the deficit was only three points. “Wemby” cleaned up at the basket and dunked the ball in. A second earlier, Yabusele had been spectacularly taken out by Durant on a three-pointer, who is now the sole record holder with four Olympic golds in basketball. No one was sitting anymore. Not the glorious front row, no one. Bercy went wild. But then came Curry. And he did Curry things. Against the momentum of the hosts, he slammed in his first three-pointer. One dribble, one shot, done.
Curry is the best shooter of all time. He makes wild and wildest shots. From impossible positions, at times that hurt the opponent, really, really hurt. This has been known for years. But no one can stop it when Curry has his touch – and he has had it ridiculously often for over a decade – it’s like a bug on PlayStation. He simply can’t miss. In recent years, he has broken all the three-point records. Of course, he has repeatedly broken his own records as well. Two minutes before the end, he made Nic Batum fly empty, 90:81. The French captain responded from outside, 90:84. Then it’s Curry again, again a three, against the ticking clock. The bench goes wild, Curry now too. Good night, France? What a mood. But no, no one is going to sleep. “Wemby” hits the long shot, 87:93 from the hosts’ perspective. The miracle? Seems possible! Really? No.
The arena experienced Louis de Funès moments. No, yes, oh! Back to Curry, heavily attacked by Evan Fournier and Batum. He dribbled the ball behind his back, searched for a small gap, found none. No matter, the ball flew in a high arc into the basket. Adieu, Les Bleus! Only Curry can do that. The American bench players were speechless. They imitated this insane shot. What was that? Teammate Bam Adebayo said: “I thought to myself: What the hell? Then I remembered who took that shot.” Curry is the three-point record holder in the NBA, of course he had to create this moment, he, who had such a tough start to this tournament and only woke up against Serbia with 36 points! But measured against this incredible barrage of three-pointers, this performance quickly fades. In the last two games, he sensationally hit 17 of 26 three-pointers. “He is so wonderful,” James raved. After four NBA championships and two world titles, he is now also an Olympic champion at the age of 36, completing his career. James reverently calls Curry “Chief.”
“Wemby” issues a significant warning
“I am super grateful to have this gold medal now. I am excited. The last two and a half minutes were something truly special. I enjoy it,” said the match-winner, who once again succumbed to the madness of downtown. “I impressed myself. With every shot, you believe it goes in. But that was the end of a whole series of such shots. At the end of the day, I only saw the basket. I didn’t see who stood in front of me.” US coach Steve Kerr, who has coached Curry very successfully at the Golden State Warriors for years, was also impressed: “This is one of the best games of his career. His shots were incredible. But under these circumstances, away in Paris, against France for gold, it was like something out of a storybook. But that is exactly what Steph does. He loves being in storybooks.” With their gold medals, the “Avengers” still posed in the hall in front of the Olympic rings logo. Eleven months after the World Cup disgrace against Germany, the USA has been rehabilitated. The party started in the arena, with champagne and thick cigars. The self-proclaimed “Revenge” of US basketball made sure to celebrate in style.
Conversely, the emotional landscape of the hosts was different. Batum had to leave the game bleeding from the face seconds before the end. They had given everything and were defeated. Wembanyama, who had an outstanding game with 26 points and numerous top actions, sank to the bench in tears, receiving comfort from the NBA giants. Durant whispered in his ear how he admired his game. And the wonderboy later issued a warning: “I’m still learning. For the coming years, I’m a bit concerned about my opponents.” But for now, they are still strong enough. Especially Curry.