The American basketball players bring their Olympic mission to a golden end. They defeat France in the final. The road to the fifth triumph in a row and the 17th overall is more difficult than expected. But the USA has the best shooter of all time.
Stephen Curry made the “goodnight” gesture one last time. 34 seconds before the final whistle, one of his shots flew through the net. The American basketball giants were leading by nine points against a desperate France. The host team never really had a hand in the gold medal. But it was a bit like the donkey and the carrot. The prospect of creating something historic, something gigantic, perhaps the biggest sensation of these Olympic Games, had really got them going. But the carrot, gold, remained elusive. Because superstar Curry found his inner Stephen again. And that is terrible news for all teams in the world. With one exception: their own.
The Olympic basketball final had electrified the world. After the men’s 100-meter sprint, the eternal highlight of the games, everyone was now looking at the Bercy Arena. There, the best-attended basketball tournament of all time came to an end. With what was probably the best team ever assembled in terms of individuals. The USA had called out their “Avengers”, in reference to Marvel’s superhero gathering, and no one had refused to join in the loud call. LeBron James was there, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, who they now despise in France, and Curry. Nothing like it had ever been seen. Not even in 1992, when the first “Dream Team” enchanted the world in Barcelona. With Michael Jordan, with “Magic Johnson” and whatever they were all called.
Victor Wembanyama played an outstanding game.
(Photo: AP)
One of them was Scottie Pippen, the legend of the Chicago Bulls. And he didn’t want to miss the spectacle. He wanted to see his successors put on a gold show. Just like Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitziki and so many others. The stands were home to the biggest gathering of stars of these games. Even Simone Biles’ dramatic gymnastics party had attracted fewer celebrities than this duel, the omens of which were so crystal clear. Hardly anyone, perhaps no one outside of the French basketball cosmos, had thought a sensation possible. The Americans had been too good at least until the quarter-finals before they needed a gigantic feat of strength against Serbia one round later. But hey, the Serbs have Nikola Jokić, currently the best player in the world, and around him a strong team that had previously taken bronze from Germany in preparation for the gold game.
LeBron James opens with a monster dunk
The French themselves had also played a tournament that left many questions unanswered. The preliminary round had actually been a disaster. In the last group game, they had been dismantled by Germany and then did the same to themselves. There was a huge clash within the team, coach Vincent Collet’s style of play was attacked. A strange farce developed around the finger of NBA champion Rudy Gobert. But suddenly something happened. First the extremely strong Canada was knocked out, then they took revenge on Germany. Both games went to France with merciless defense, and much of the offense remained sluggish. But the old saying about the defense that makes you a champion is timelessly true.
The spectacle began with a thunderous dunk by LeBron James. France opened the corridor to the basket for him, and a four-time NBA champion and 20-time All-Star naturally only says one thing: Merci! The giant had his feet clad in golden shoes. A statement: no doubts about the success of the mission. But it was fiery back and forth. Also because France’s prodigy Victor “Wemby” Wembanyama had set out to at least annoy the Americans, or rather embarrass them. Again and again the ball landed in the hands of the 2.24 meter tall “alien” and from there in the basket. The arena shook, “Wemby” pushed and the Americans responded as expected of them. With a spectacle. James made a no-look pass behind his back to Devin Booker, who was extremely conspicuous at the beginning, and he easily finished. Oh, it was wonderful.
Nobody flies as beautifully as Lebron James.
(Photo: AP)
But the game also dragged on because the US boys weren’t consistently scoring. Curry started the game with a 0:3 series from the three-point line. Durant also couldn’t find his “touch”. And the French worked like wild animals, making a lot of easy mistakes. But they had “Wemby” in great form and a Guerschon Yabusele, who had once tried unsuccessfully in the NBA but had now become an unstoppable beast. In the second quarter he put James on the poster with a monster dunk. The NBA giant didn’t like that. France reduced the lead to five points again. The game was all about runs. Right up until the final phase, and that was really tough.
Curry runs hot, as only curry can run hot
Five minutes before the end, James scored the winner. The bench celebrated and gloated. The US boys were ten points ahead. The gold mission was close to completion. But France countered, and with three minutes to go they were only three points behind. “Wemby” worked on the basket and dunked the ball in. A second before, Yabusele had been mercilessly cleared out of a three-pointer by Durant, who is now the sole record holder in basketball with four Olympic gold medals. No one was sitting down. Not the glorious front row, no one. Bercy went crazy. But then Curry came. And he did Curry things. He hammered in the first three-pointer against the hosts’ run. One dribble, one finish, done.
Curry is the best shooter of all time. He makes wild and wildest shots. From impossible positions, at times that hurt the opponent, really, really hurt. We’ve known this for years. But nobody can stop it, when Curry has his touch – and he’s had it incredibly often for over a decade – it’s like a bug on the Playstation. He just can’t miss anymore. In recent years he has broken all records from the three-point line. Of course, his own too, time and time again. Two minutes before the end he lets Nic Batum fly into the void, 90:81. The French captain also responds from outside, 90:84. Then Curry again, again three, against the running clock. The bench goes crazy, Curry now too. Good night, France? What an atmosphere. But no, nobody goes to sleep. “Wemby” hits the long thing, 87:93 from the hosts’ perspective. The miracle? Seems possible! Really? No.
The hall is experiencing Louis de Funès moments. No, yes, oh! Curry again, fiercely attacked by Evan Fournier and Batum. He dribbles the ball behind his back, looks for a small gap, but doesn’t find one. No matter, the ball flies in a high arc into the basket. Goodbye, Les Bleus! Only Curry can do something like that. The American bench players are stunned. They imitate this crazy shot. What was that? Teammate Bam Adebayo: “I thought to myself: what the hell? Then I remembered who took that shot.” Curry is the NBA’s record holder for three-pointers, of course he had to achieve this moment, he who had had such a difficult time in this tournament and only woke up against Serbia with 36 points! But compared to this incredible hail of three-pointers, this achievement quickly pales in comparison. In the last two games he hit an insane 17 out of 26 three-pointers. “He’s so wonderful,” James enthused. After four NBA championships and two world championship titles, he is now also an Olympic champion at the age of 36, and his career is complete. James reverently calls Curry “boss.”
“Wemby” issues a big warning
“I’m super grateful to have this gold medal now. I’m excited. The last two and a half minutes were something very special. I’m enjoying it,” said the match winner, who once again fell victim to the madness of downtown. “I impressed myself. With every shot you think it’s going to go in. But that was the end of a whole series of such shots. At the end of the day, all I saw was the basket. I didn’t see who was standing in front of me.” US coach Steve Kerr, who has coached Curry very successfully with the Golden State Warriors for years, was also amazed: “This is one of the best games of his career. His hits were unbelievable. But under these circumstances, away in Paris, against France for gold, it’s like something out of a storybook. But that’s exactly what Steph does. He likes being in storybooks.” With their gold medals, the “Avangers” posed in the hall in front of a logo of the Olympic rings. Eleven months after the World Cup disgrace against Germany, the USA have been rehabilitated. The party started in the arena, with champagne. and thick cigars. The self-proclaimed “Avengers” of US basketball let it rip in style.
The hosts felt differently. Batum had to leave the game seconds before the end with a bleeding face. They had given everything and were beaten. Wembanyama, who had played a sensational game, his best at the Olympics, with 26 points and numerous top moves, sank to the bench in tears and was comforted by the NBA giants. Durant whispered in his ear how much he admired his game. And the prodigy later issued a warning: “I’m still learning. In the years to come, I’m a little worried about my opponents.” But they are still strong enough. Especially Curry.