Stephen Curry waited his whole profession to make his Olympics debut, however the begin of his run within the 2024 Paris Video games was decidedly underwhelming. In the US’ first 4 video games within the Olympics, Curry averaged solely 7.3 factors per recreation on 35.7 % capturing from the sphere and 25 % capturing from three-point vary.
Because it took on Serbia within the semifinals, Curry didn’t waste any time exhibiting he can nonetheless be as spectacular as any participant on this planet on the proper night time. He popped off for 17 factors within the first quarter together with his patented array of lengthy vary photographs, however the U.S. was nonetheless on the ropes.
Serbia led the US by 11 at halftime. Serbia led by 13 factors getting into the fourth quarter. With their basketball supremacy on the road, USA Basketball turned to Curry and LeBron James, and the duo helped ship the workforce to the gold medal recreation.
America beat Serbia, 95-91, to advance to the finals of the lads’s basketball match towards France. Curry scored extra factors within the semifinals than he did within the earlier 4 video games mixed, and it was the driving pressure in serving to the U.S. keep away from a vastly embarrassing loss.
Curry completed with 36 factors on 9-of-14 capturing from three-point vary. With Workforce USA having its backs towards a wall, Curry repeatedly took over to maintain his gold medal goals alive.
“It was solely a matter of time earlier than he had certainly one of these video games,” stated LeBron James on TV after the sport.
Curry didn’t do it himself. James and Kevin Durant joined Curry in enjoying the complete fourth quarter, and all three veterans made enormous photographs down the stretch.
James completed with 16 factors, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. It’s the fourth triple-double in Olympic historical past, and James turns into the primary participant to ever submit two Olympic triple-doubles. Durant added 9 factors, and had a clutch lengthy two-point bucket to assist safe the win on the finish of regulation.
Serbia led the US nearly the complete recreation. Curry began the scoring within the recreation, however the U.S. didn’t lead once more till late within the fourth quarter. USA wrestled the lead again when Curry hit this three-pointer working off a Joel Embiid display with simply over two minutes remaining.
On the subsequent possession, James soared by way of the air for an acrobatic layup:
Curry and James embraced after the win:
This is the reason the US needed to put its absolute best roster collectively for these Olympics with the remainder of the world catching up. LeBron James skipped the earlier two Olympics, and Curry had by no means performed within the Olympics. USA Basketball did properly to get commitments from its greatest gamers, and it has put them within the gold medal recreation.
This photograph is straight away iconic:
There’s quite a lot of nice younger expertise everywhere in the world in basketball, however Curry and James stay two of the brightest skills within the recreation of their late 30s. Workforce USA would have been toast in these Olympics with out them.
