Both the Men's and Women's Basketball Teams won gold medals in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Yesterday the men led by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and Anthony Edwards beat the host country, France for their fifth straight gold medal, and today the women led by A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Britney Griner, Diana Taurasi, and Kahleah Copper also beat France in a one point game to win their eighth straight gold medal. Both teams were tested until the very end with almost every game coming down to the wire. This signifies how close the rest of the world has come to catching up to the United States, but other countries aren’t there yet. We are still the best in the world by a wide margin, even if the margin continues to thin.
Men’s Team
Seeing the best three players of the last decade (LeBron, KD, and Steph) all playing together at a high level was as entertaining as we could’ve ever asked for. This may be the only time we ever get to see these three legends play together, but it was well worth the wait. Kevin Durant after breaking most US Olympic records is now likely the greatest player in US history after earning his fourth gold medal. LeBron won his third gold medal and was as great a leader the team could possibly have, while still playing like an MVP and setting up the offense. Steph Curry did not disappoint either in his first ever Olympics as he carried the offense throughout the last two games both in their comeback win against Serbia and against France. Down by as many as 17 points (including down 13 heading into the 4th quarter) in the Semifinals against Jokic and Serbia, it took a whole team effort to come back. Whether it was LeBron’s exceptional driving and passing, KD hitting timely threes, Embiid and Anthony Davis making crazy blocks, or Steph scorching from beyond the arc, this team was able to come all the way back from a seemingly insurmountable lead. In the gold medal game, it took Curry’s fourth quarter barrage of three pointers and his ‘Golden Dagger’ three to seal the win. With other countries now having legitimate stars like Nikola Jokic of Serbia, Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada, and Victor Wembanyama of France, Team USA wasn’t going to be able to win relying on having the best player on the floor. Giannis, Jokic, Wemby, and Shai are each forced to carry their country alone without a running mate even close to as talented as the players on the US team. The US needed to prove that each one of their stars could dominate together in different roles than they’re accustomed to playing in the NBA. They convincingly proved they could put the team’s goals in front of their own egos. America being able to rely on Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis when the starters came out of the game, as well as Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum not allowing their long spurts of time on the bench to affect their play when they got in is why no team could compete with the US. While 2024’s ‘Avengers’ (quote from LeBron after the game) might not have an average margin of victory of 44 points like the Dream Team did, they should still be remembered as one of the two or three greatest teams of all time.
Women’s Team
The United States women are even more dominant than the men. They of course have been the best team in the world for 28 straight years, after winning their eighth straight gold medal. While other countries have caught up, and now force Team USA to play in tight games, they still aren’t better. France only lost by 1 point in the gold medal game and had Gabby Williams foot not been on the line on her buzzer beating shot, they would have gone to overtime, but they needed some miraculous shots and missed free throws to even be in that position. While some of the games were closer, they haven’t lost a single game since 1992, and it’s obvious the women won’t be losing anytime soon. They not only have the best players in the world, the team also doesn’t have a hole on the roster. A’ja Wilson is easily the best player in the world. Her playing with Breanna Stewart is really not fair, but it’s not just them. The team probably has nine of the ten best players in the world, only missing Jonquel Jones. They have everything you could want in a team, and aren’t only more talented than everyone else, they also fit very well together without a hole on the roster. Led by the legendary Diana Taurasi, who just won her sixth gold medal, this team has the experience and the current superstars that are necessary to continue their dominance. No country can match the size of A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Britney Griner. They also have an embarrassment of riches in players who can score from top to bottom, including (Rutgers graduate) Kahleah Copper who had a fabulous gold medal game, but also Sabrian Ionescu, Alyssa Thomas, Napheesa Collier, and really the whole team. There isn’t another country that is even close to America, and that’s why they’re going to continue to win gold medals.
Photos via Getty Images
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