Going into the 2024 Summer Olympics, plenty of critics were concerned that Team USA men’s basketball was ripe for an upset loss. They felt the squad had shown multiple vulnerabilities during its exhibition games and that it had holes that would get exposed.
But for most of the last fortnight, it has been simply impressive. Even when it fell behind against Serbia by as many as 17 points in the semifinal round on Thursday, it exploded in the fourth quarter and played impressive basketball.
The United States took the court on Saturday against France with an Olympic gold medal at stake. While France was reasonably competitive — it came to within three points with just under three minutes left in the fourth quarter — it was no match for Team USA.
Team USA emerged victorious, 98-87, and claimed its fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. LeBron James had another excellent performance with 14 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot.
Blocked by James ❗️
KD for 3
📺 NBC + Peacock
🇺🇸 #USABMNT #Paris2024 #Basketball
pic.twitter.com/RFCDD1dmhu— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 10, 2024
oh he’s feeling it.
LeBron goes behind the back to Book for the bucket!
📺 NBC + Peacock
🇺🇸 #USABMNT #Paris2024 #Basketball
pic.twitter.com/uJ63a6zwc0— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 10, 2024
Clear the lane, LeBron coming through.
📺 NBC + Peacock
🇺🇸 #USABMNT #Paris2024 #Basketball
pic.twitter.com/v60VuLWJpb— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 10, 2024
Hits his 4th three of the game ➡️ hits the shimmy
📺 NBC + Peacock
🇺🇸 #USABMNT #Paris2024 #Basketball
pic.twitter.com/nOs0VUQVX6— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 10, 2024
QB1 Joel
📺 NBC + Peacock
🇺🇸 #USABMNT #Paris2024 #Basketball
pic.twitter.com/1QKgJj07Ot— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 10, 2024
Curry coming through in the clutch!
📺 NBC + Peacock
🇺🇸 #USABMNT #Paris2024 #Basketball
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 10, 2024
As he has for the last several weeks, Anthony Davis did a nice job of sparking the United States off the bench. On Saturday, he had eight points, nine rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals in 20 minutes.
Anthony Davis with the putback oh my AD#USABMNT x #Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/4D052lvDqt
— Griffex (@GRlFFEX) August 10, 2024
ANT GOT 🆙
📺 NBC + Peacock
🇺🇸 #USABMNT #Paris2024 #Basketballpic.twitter.com/I8lTXLNgOI
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 10, 2024
BLOCK BY ANTHONY DAVİS 😤#Paris2024 #OlympicGames #USABMNTpic.twitter.com/ttztB6Matj
— Global Sports News (@xForSports) August 10, 2024
Anthony Davis just bullying everyone in the paint tonight 💪#USABMNT x #Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/txwKp7KMbQ
— Griffex (@GRlFFEX) August 10, 2024
For France, San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama had 26 points and seven rebounds
This was James’ third Olympic gold medal, while Davis claimed his second gold medal in Olympic competition.
