In the Paris Olympics, the Team USA Basketball team took home the gold medal, defeating France 98-87 to secure gold, but how did they get there? What happened along the way? The team featured stars such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Team USA has won multiple gold medals in previous Olympics with the stars they put on the court, but just because the USA has the best players in the world, doesn’t mean other teams will just give up.

In the group stage, Team USA defeated Serbia, 110-84. Kevin Durant, forward for the Phoenix Suns, had 23 points to lead team USA in scoring. LeBron James, of the Los Angeles Lakers, was close behind him at 21 points. Anthony Davis, of the Los Angeles Lakers, led in rebounding with a total of 8 rebounds, 2 offensive and 6 defensive. A rebound is when someone misses a shot and you get the ball right from the miss. LeBron James led in assists, with 9 assists. An assist is when you pass the ball to a teammate and right after the pass they make a shot. For Team USA, 6 players scored 10+ points. In Team USA’s second group game, they played South Sudan, and won 103-86. Bam Adebayo, center for the Miami Heat, led Team USA in scoring with 18 points. LeBron James, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis all had 7 rebounds to lead Team USA in rebounding. For assists, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns led Team USA with 6 assists. For the second time in the Olympic tournament, 6 players scored 10+ points. In their third and final group stage game, they beat Puerto Rico 104-83. Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, scored 26 points and had an amazing dunk, leading the team. In rebounding, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, had 10 rebounds, the only rebounder in double digits in the tournament. LeBron James led in assists with 8 assists. For the third time in the tournament, 6 players had 10+ points.

In the quarter-final matchup against Brazil, Team USA dismantled Brazil, winning by 35 in a 122-87 blowout win. Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker put in 17 and 18 points, respectively. For the fourth time in the tournament, 6 players put in 10+ points. Anthony Davis led the team in rebounding with 8 rebounds, but Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Bam Adebayo were close behind at 7 rebounds each. LeBron James led the team with 9 assists. No one so far in the tournament has had over 10 assists. 

In the semi-final game against Serbia, Team USA struggled in the first half. They faced a 17 point lead, and no team had ever come back from a 17 point lead. Going into the 4th quarter, team USA faced a 13 point deficit, 76-63. It was going to take a big performance from someone, and that someone was Steph Curry, of the Golden State Warriors. Curry, who’d been struggling in the Olympics, had a big 4th quarter and led Team USA to a late lead. Curry led the team in points with 36 points, 27 of which coming off 3 pointers. LeBron James, who had 16 points, led in rebounds with 12 rebounds. LeBron James also led in assists with 10 assists, a team high in the tournament. 

In the gold medal match against France, the host of the olympics, Team USA cruised to a win 98-87. France’s biggest lead of the game was only 2 points. Stephen Curry led in points again with 24 points, all of which off of 3 pointers. Anthony Davis led Team USA in rebounds with 9 rebounds. LeBron James led the team in assists with 10 assists, tied with the highest total of assists for the team in the tournament. Team USA had some hiccups on the way, but wound up winning the gold medal. LeBron James in his postgame interview was asked what he’d call his team, and he called them the Avengers. It was a great season for the team, and hopefully they’ll be back in 4 years, competing for the gold in Los Angeles. 

Cites – 

https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/mens-olympic-basketball-tournament-paris-2024/games/122608-FRA-USA

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/10/g-s1-16487/us-mens-basketball-gold-paris-olympics

https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/mens-olympic-basketball-tournament-paris-2024/games/117651-SRB-USA#boxscore

https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/mens-olympic-basketball-tournament-paris-2024/games/122606-USA-SRB