Prop bet #1: LeBron James Over 8.5 assists

(+112)

LeBron James has been Team USA’s maestro, keeping the team’s best scorers well-fed all while taking on lead post defense duties and filling in the scoring gaps where necessary. He’s averaging under nine shots per game through five contests but has been an impact player throughout, averaging 14.2 points, seven rebounds and 8.2 assists.

Considering that playmaking has been the best part of his game in the knockout stage, James’ line of 8.5 dimes seems very makeable. He’s topped that in both win-or-go-home games, including a Paris-best 10 assists in the thriller over Serbia.

It helps that he’s now going to be feeding an awakened beast in Stephen Curry (more on him below), on top of all those potent weapons he can tinker with any time down the floor.

With France’s interior defense expected to pack the paint, James should be well-positioned to find the open man more often than not, and it should be with much success.

Prop bet #2: Stephen Curry Over 3.5 made 3s

+126

What a time for basketball’s all-time best shooter to rediscover his stroke. After scoring just 29 points through the United States’ first four games, Curry erupted for 36 in the semifinal against Serbia. That included a blistering 8-for-13 mark from distance after he had hit just 5 of 20 all tournament long.

Now the books respond by setting his 3-point make total to 3.5 (up from 2.5 last game), but they’re still giving plus odds to hit the Over and I can’t pass that up. Curry is a weapon that just got unlocked, and Steve Kerr would be wise to use Steph in all actions to get the offense cooking. 

France’s 3-point defense has been a key to their run to the gold medal game, holding Canada and Germany to a combined 15-for-55 effort from distance, a 27.2% clip. But their perimeter defense is going from running at average shooters to the real-life cheat code. Look for Curry to end this Paris run still cooking from deep.

Prop bet #3: Victor Wembanyama Under 17.5 points

-120

Let’s end with reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, who’s been underwhelming at best as France has moved through the knockout stage.

An exceptional effort from his supporting cast – and a whopping 42 free-throw attempts – lifted France to a win over Canada as Wemby finished with seven points on 2-for-10 shooting. It went from bad to worse in the semifinal win over Germany, with Wembanyama shooting a dismal 4-for-17 from the field, including 1-for-8 from downtown, finishing with 11 points.

Now Wemby gets the Americans, who have the athletes and live bodies to give the rook all kinds of problems.

LeBron can be physical, while Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis can hold their own with help defenders in tow. There’s also a bench that includes Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards and, if Kerr chooses to dust him off, Jayson Tatum.

The kid is just figuring things out, and taking his lumps this tournament is one of those times. After those last two performances, there’s nowhere to go but up, just not past this total.