Two years ago, after clinching his fourth NBA title with the Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry had one more dream to chase: Olympic gold. The ultimate accolade in basketball was the only thing missing from his illustrious career.
In the grandest of moments, Curry ensured that the coveted medal would be his.
The U.S. men's basketball team once again ascended to the pinnacle of international basketball. Curry led the charge with a dazzling 24-point performance, all from beyond the arc, guiding Team USA to a 98-87 victory over France in the final at the Paris Games on a memorable Saturday night. This triumph marked the fifth consecutive gold medal for the U.S. and their 17th in 20 Olympic appearances.
"You just stay confident, stay present, and don’t get rattled by the moment," Curry reflected. He had sunk 17 three-pointers in his last two games, starting with nine against Serbia to secure a spot in the gold-medal game.
U.S. coach Steve Kerr added, "Steph earned this."
In the final 2:43 of the game, Curry made four crucial three-pointers, including the dagger with 1:19 remaining that put the U.S. up 93-84. He skipped down the court, shaking his jersey to proudly display the "USA" across the front. With about 30 seconds left, he sealed the victory with his signature "go to sleep" move, putting his hands on the side of his face.
Good night. Game over. Gold won. Again.
"For me to get a gold medal is insane, and I thank God for the opportunity to experience it," Curry said.
Kevin Durant, the first four-time men's gold medalist in Olympic basketball history, contributed 15 points for the Americans, as did Devin Booker. LeBron James, sporting metallic gold shoes, scored 14 points, earning his fourth Olympic medal and third gold.
"Super humbled that I can still play this game," James said. "Played at a high level, played with 11 other great players and a great coaching staff and went on and did it for our country. It was a great moment all around."
For the second consecutive Olympics, the French team had to watch the Americans celebrate with U.S. flags after the title game. France had lost to the U.S. 87-82 in Tokyo three years prior, and this game was close until the final minutes.
That is, until Curry took over.
"I think we might be the only team in the world whose fans are ashamed of them if they get a silver medal," said Kerr, whose two-summer run with the U.S. ended with a 21-3 record and Olympic gold — 11-0 this summer. "That’s the pressure that we face. But our players, and you saw Steph, they love the pressure. They appreciate this atmosphere and they were fantastic."
Victor Wembanyama, the NBA Rookie of the Year for San Antonio, shone brightly for France in his first Olympic final, scoring 26 points — the second-most ever against the U.S. in a gold-medal game, just one point shy of Drazen Dalipagic's 27 for Yugoslavia in 1976.
"I’m learning," Wembanyama said. "And I’m worried for the opponents in a couple of years." He covered his face in a towel afterward as the Americans celebrated. Guerschon Yabusele added 20 points for the hosts.
"For sure, it’s a disappointment because we expected we could do it," France coach Vincent Collet said. "But we have to recognize at the end that they are better. We are very close ... When they make fantastic shots, that’s the difference."
The U.S. lead was 14 early in the third quarter, seemingly poised to pull away. But the offense went cold, and when Evan Fournier hit a three-pointer with 3:05 left in the quarter, the lead was down to 65-59 after a 12-4 run by the hosts.
A miscommunication between Anthony Edwards and Durant led to a turnover, allowing Nando De Colo to score and beat the buzzer, reducing the U.S. lead to 72-66 heading into the final 10 minutes.
France got as close as three points, but no closer, thanks to Curry. He hit four three-pointers in a span of 2:12, including a circus shot that immediately entered Olympic lore.
"A big shot to put us up six. That kind of settled everything," Curry said. "And then the rhythm, the avalanche came, and thankfully the other three went in. That was an unbelievable moment. I’ve been blessed to play basketball at a high level for a very long time. This ranks very high in terms of excitement and the sense of relief, getting to the finish line."
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It was the eighth time in Olympic history — and Sunday’s women’s final between the U.S. and France would mark the ninth — that the home team got to play for basketball gold. Home teams are now 5-3 in those games, 2-1 on the men’s side. The U.S. men and women both won in 1984 and 1996; the women of the Soviet Union won in 1980, while Australia’s women lost to the U.S. in 2000 and Japan’s women also lost to the U.S. at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
For James, it was another accolade in his storied career. For Durant, it was history with four golds. For Booker, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, and Bam Adebayo, it was a second gold. For Jrue Holiday, it was a second gold to match his wife — soccer great Lauren Cheney Holiday — for the family lead. For Derrick White, Tyrese Haliburton, Joel Embiid, and Edwards, it was their first Olympic title.
"This has been an amazing experience, a beautiful experience," Durant said.
For Curry, it was a long-awaited moment after missing previous Olympics. The Americans couldn’t have been more thrilled that he was there for this one.
"I was smilin’, cheesin’, having the best time of my life," Curry said.
He likened it to a Game 7 on the road, which it essentially was. He had thrived in those moments before: a 50-point outburst to lead Golden State past Sacramento in 2023, and a 27-point, 10-assist, nine-rebound performance to win a do-or-die game in Houston in 2018.
And now, this.
"It’s right up there with all of the greatest games of his career," Kerr said. "The shot-making was just incredible. But under the circumstances, on the road, in Paris, against France for a gold medal, this is storybook stuff. But that’s what Steph does. He likes to be in storybooks."
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