The idea, when constructing this summer’s Olympic men’s basketball roster, was to bring together a group of remarkable players to see if they could become something more.
To see if they could set egos aside, work together when we needed them most, and demonstrate why the United States remains unrivaled on the hardwood, even as the rest of the world continues to gain ground.
The Americans, led by LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, looked beatable in exhibition play. Head coach Steve Kerr’s rotations were questioned all summer long. And if it were not for Curry’s heroics in the Olympic semifinals against Serbia, Team USA might have gotten sent home early with a bronze medal.
But this is the most talented roster in the world, and that adversity was nothing the Americans could not handle. Team USA was inevitable in the end, defeating host country France 98-87 on Saturday night inside Paris’ Bercy Arena to earn its fifth straight Olympic gold medal.
France, led by Victor Wembanyama, Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier, settled for a silver medal behind the Americans for the second straight Olympics. It was Team USA’s 17th gold medal in basketball overall and it has won eight of the last nine.
This is a developing story. Check back for details.
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