PARIS (France) – A memorable tournament deserved a memorable Final game. In front of the packed and incredibly loud stands of the Bercy Arena, the United States picked up their 17th Olympic gold medal in men’s basketball.

France put up a fight, did not give up even when the USA led by 14, and gave their fans a lot of hope that a miracle could happen.

LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and all the other stars on Team USA’s roster had different plans. It finished 98-87, leaving France with another silver, same as at the 2020 Olympics.

Turning point

It was an electric first half, with a total of 10 lead changes in the first 15 minutes, but the United States took control of the game in the second part of the second quarter, opening up a 10-point lead behind Devin Booker’s 13 points.

The biggest reason why France weren’t down by more than 10 at the break were Victor Wembanyama and Guerschon Yabusele. The 20-year-old giant had 13 first half points, more than in the Quarter-Finals (7pts) or the Semi-Finals (11pts), while Yabusele brought down the house with the dunk of the tournament, flying over LeBron James just before the halftime.

But that got James even more motivated for the second half. He found Steph Curry twice on wide open three-pointers to push the gap to 61-47 after just three minutes of action in the second half.

However, powered by a classical FIBA Evan showing, France made it interesting before the final ten minutes, Fournier having seven straight points and Nando De Colo beating the buzzer to make it -6 (72-66) from the hosts’ point of view with ten to play.

They went back-and-forth until the final three minutes of the game. As Wemby brought France within just three points with three minutes to go, Steph Curry decided it was time to put this game to bed, in his usual fashion.

He knocked down not one, not two, not three, but FOUR massive three-pointers in a span of 132 seconds from the 2:47 mark to 0:35, one crazier than the other, pushing the gap to 96-87 in the final minute, stunning the French part of the crowd, and delighting the Americans in the stands of the Bercy Arena.

Game heroes

Take a bow, Mr Curry. The basketball world was once again amazed with the 36-year-old and his shooting touch, as he combined for 60 points in the last two games of the tournament.

Curry had 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc. Reminder, he made 9-of-14 in the Semi-Finals against Serbia.

Right next to him: LeBron James with 14 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds. Also in double digits: Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, both with 15.

Stats don’t lie

To defeat this team, you would have to have a perfect shooting day, and France were far from it, hitting just 9-of-30 three-pointers. By comparison, USA were 9-of-20 at the half, and finished 18-of-36.

Bottom line

The United States remain on top of the world, at least when it comes to the Olympics. They put an unbelievably talented team together for Paris, with everybody united towards that one goal, winning the gold medal again.

They’ve achieved it now, and coach Steve Kerr can slowly start planning the next phase of USA Basketball, with the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 and the 2028 Olympics as their next two global events. Kevin Durant is now the first man with four Olympic gold medals to his name.

As for France, they gave it their all, and have a real superstar in the 20-year-old Victor Wembanyama. In his first Final, he went off for 26 points and 7 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough, as only Guerschon Yabusele was able to follow his lead, getting 20 points in the game.

Quick notes

• The United States have won their fifth consecutive gold medal at the Olympics

• They made 18 three-pointers in the Final, the most by any team in a final of an Olympic tournament. It was their 10th game with 15+ three-pointers at the Olympics, at least seven games more than any other team, ever

• France made just 59 percent of their free throws, the lowest percentage from the line in a Final since FR Yugoslavia also shot 59 percent in 1996

• Victor Wembanyama had his first game with 20+ points at the Olympics, and with Yabusele, he created the first pair of teammates to get 20+ in the Final since Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro in 2012

• Steph Curry made eight three-pointers, the most for any player in the final of an Olympic tournament

• Curry is only the third player with 20+ points in a single game at the Olympics without making a single free throw or a two-pointer (also Wang Shipeng vs Australia in 2012, and Damian Lillard vs Iran in 2021)

• Kevin Durant is the first player with four gold medals at the Olympics, with 518 points he is the only US player with more than 400 points in this competition and ranks 8th all-time now.

*Stay tuned for quotes*

FIBA