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The US men’s basketball team secured their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in an exciting rematch with host nation France at the Paris Olympics. This historic game pitted NBA superstars LeBron James and Stephen Curry together for the first and likely final time against the rising French talent Victor Wembanyama.
In a thrilling 98-87 victory, Olympic rookie Curry led the Americans with 24 points, including eight three-pointers. At age 36, Curry joined forces with LeBron James (39) and Kevin Durant (35) in a unique gathering of the NBA’s top players, resulting in the US team claiming its seventeenth Olympic gold in men’s basketball.
“I thought this would be my one and only chance to play at the Olympics and experience this platform,” Curry mentioned earlier. Following a spectacular three-point shot in the final minute of the game, he gestured as if putting French hopes to rest.
After the medal ceremony in Paris, Curry expressed his joy, saying, “This has been everything I imagined and more. I’m relishing every moment because you never know if this opportunity will come again.”
© AP
Wembanyama led France with 26 points, showcasing his skills after winning the NBA Rookie of the Year with the San Antonio Spurs. Yabusele added 20 points, including a memorable dunk over James that electrified the crowd.
Notable personalities at the game included French President Emmanuel Macron, sports figures Thierry Henry and Sha’Carri Richardson, and TV host Jimmy Fallon.
The game marked a rematch of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic final and highlighted the international basketball talent on both sides of the Atlantic. The Paris Games aimed to set basketball attendance records, hosting the group stage in Lille.
“This is the second time I’ve earned silver, and I’m tired of it. I need to win gold,” stated Yabusele, who represented France in Tokyo as well.
Despite their victory, the US team faced challenges in Paris. They narrowly defeated Serbia 95-91 in the semi-finals after trailing for three quarters. The Balkan squad, led by NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, secured the bronze medal against Germany.
James, the four-time NBA champion, was named MVP of the tournament by Fiba. While the next Olympics will be in his current home of Los Angeles, James hinted that this might have been his last Games.
“At this stage of my career, I don’t know how many more games or moments I have left. I can’t picture myself playing in LA or Paris in four years.”
