Stephen Curry

Paris 2024 men’s basketball: ‘Chef’ Curry pieces up to lead Team France USA to fifth gold medal in a row

11 August 2024 07:24 GMT+5:30

By  M.k.karikalsozhan  Blog  Reporter

**Stephen Curry’s Olympic Glory: A Night to Remember in Paris**

On a night that will be etched in the annals of Olympic history, Stephen Curry, the man who revolutionised basketball, added another chapter to his storied career. Making his much-anticipated Olympic debut at the age of 36, Curry’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. In a game that saw Team USA triumph over France 98-87 at the Bercy Arena, Curry’s heroics were the decisive factor in securing his team’s fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. 

**A Dream Come True: Curry’s Olympic Debut**

For 15 years, the NBA has marvelled at Curry’s unparalleled shooting prowess, but the Olympic Games had always eluded him—until Paris 2024. As the final seconds ticked away and Curry’s last three-pointer splashed through the hoop, the Golden State Warriors superstar sprinted down the floor, mimicking a sleeping gesture with his hands. It was a fitting celebration, as he had effectively put the French team to bed on the grandest stage of international basketball.

“We always say, ‘Do what the game calls for’,” Curry reflected post-game. “You just stay confident, stay present, and don’t get rattled by the moment. Those last two and a half minutes were special; guys were hyping me up. Every shot you take, you think is going in. That final one was a solid flurry of shots. All I saw was the rim; I didn’t see who was in front of me.”

Curry’s late-game heroics included draining four three-pointers in a span of just over two minutes, effectively sealing the victory for Team USA. It was a dazzling display of shooting that the world had come to expect from Curry, yet the context made it even more extraordinary. This was the Olympic final, and Curry delivered when it mattered most.

**France’s Valiant Effort**

While Curry’s performance stole the headlines, the French team, led by the prodigious Victor Wembanyama, put up a valiant fight. Wembanyama, only 20 years old, led France with 26 points on 11-for-19 shooting, and added seven rebounds. His performance was a glimpse into the future of French basketball—a future that looks incredibly bright.

“I’m proud of what we’ve done here in France, in front of our fans,” Wembanyama said after the game. “I’m going to let this soak in and realise what’s going on. Nobody is going to take this experience from me. I’m learning. I’m worried for the opponents in a couple of years, everywhere. We’re growing. Basketball is growing here in France.”

Despite their best efforts, France couldn’t withstand the onslaught brought on by Curry. They managed to keep the game close until the final minutes, even bringing the score to within three points with just under three minutes remaining. However, Curry’s subsequent barrage of three-pointers proved too much for the French defence to handle.

**The Game-Changing Moment**

The game’s turning point came during a timeout when Curry suggested running pick-and-roll plays with LeBron James to create open looks. Steve Kerr, Team USA’s head coach and Curry’s long-time mentor, was initially cautious but ultimately trusted Curry’s instincts.

“When Steph said, ‘Let’s do a side pick and roll’, I just said, ‘Be careful on the blitz’ because they had forced a bunch of turnovers,” Kerr recounted. “But he wanted to do it and he was dead on, he got the match-up he wanted and the guys did a great job of executing it.”

The result was a sequence of three-pointers that left the French defence in tatters. Curry first slipped a pick on Guerschon Yabusele, nailing a three from the top of the key. Moments later, he shook off Nicolas Batum to drain another three from the left elbow. The final blow came when Devin Booker, driving into the lane, found Curry open after Nando de Colo momentarily lost sight of him. Curry didn’t hesitate—another swish, and the game was effectively over.

**LeBron James on Curry’s Brilliance**

LeBron James, who played a crucial role in the victory, was full of praise for his teammate. “You just simply marvel at his talent,” James said. “Obviously, I’ve seen it before on the opposite side; you’ve just got to keep finding ways to keep getting him the ball.”

The respect between these two legends of the game was palpable. Both veterans, both champions, and now, both Olympic gold medalists, they had finally shared the court on the international stage, and the result was something truly special.

**Team USA’s Journey to Gold**

The victory in Paris was the culmination of a two-year journey for Team USA, one that began with LeBron James reaching out to potential teammates for a final Olympic run. After watching Team USA finish fourth in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, James, Curry, and Kevin Durant resolved to unite for one last shot at Olympic glory.

The squad they assembled was formidable, featuring 11 NBA All-Stars and four former league MVPs, including Joel Embiid, who had recently become a United States citizen. Yet, despite their star power, the journey to gold was anything but straightforward. They faced significant challenges, including a nail-biting win over Serbia in the semi-finals, where they overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit.

“It didn’t surprise me; there’s a reason these guys signed up for this,” Kerr said. “The Olympics are special. These guys play for NBA championships and Olympic golds. Those are the pinnacles of success as a player. There’s a reason Kevin keeps doing this—he loves it. All the guys love it.”

Reflecting on their journey, Kerr added, “Watching the game against Serbia back, I don’t know if I have ever seen these guys on an individual level show that much emotion. To come back the way they did against Serbia shows how much it means to them. It’s bigger than almost anything else you can experience as a group.”

**Curry’s Olympic Legacy**

For Stephen Curry, the Paris 2024 Olympics were the fulfilment of a long-held dream. After years of watching his peers compete on the international stage, he finally had his moment—and he made the most of it.

“I have seen other medal ceremonies at other events and I have seen (Durant) get all three of his,” Curry said. “I have watched and envisioned what that would feel like. It wasn’t really something to knock off my resume; it was more of something I never got to experience and now knowing what it would be like. To your point, I was just smiling... having the best time of my life, taking it all in because you never know if this moment would happen again.”

As he walked off the court, gold medal around his neck and a smile of pure joy on his face, it was clear that Curry’s Olympic debut had been everything he hoped for and more. For a player who has achieved so much, this experience was the perfect addition to his legacy—a moment of pure, unfiltered joy in a career that has been defined by greatness.

**Conclusion: A Night of Legends**

The Paris 2024 men’s basketball final was more than just a game; it was a showcase of what makes basketball—and sport in general—so special. It was a night where legends came together, where the past, present, and future of the game collided in a spectacle of skill, heart, and determination.

For Stephen Curry, it was the night he finally added Olympic gold to his already glittering resume. For France, it was a night of bittersweet pride, as they saw the future of their basketball hopes shine brightly in defeat. And for basketball fans around the world, it was a night to remember—a night when Stephen Curry, with a few flicks of his wrist, showed once again why he is one of the greatest to ever play the game.