With the Men’s Olympic basketball tournament over, we have our champions. The US managed to stave off the host country, claiming gold. After a hard-fought battle, France finished with silver, and after Serbia’s win today, they took bronze. This means that the current FIBA champions, Germany, go home medal-less. In what was a nail-biter of a tournament, with excellent displaces of basketball across the board, this Olympics is one for the books. We’ll break down the games and how they concluded this epic series.
The USA has done it, with a stunning run to this game, barely getting past Serbia, they claim gold! France didn't go down lightly, however, with Victor Wembanyama putting on a clinic in the first half. He should know why he is among the most anticipated NBA players, dropping 13 points and 5 rebounds in the first half. He was all over the court, affecting plays as the French desperately struggled to knock down anything from outside. Making just 3 of their 16 attempts from outside, it was all Team USA from outside.
Sliding into half-time, the USA led by 8 points 49-41. Devin Booker led the team in scoring at half, shooting lights out. He was the entire reason the USA was up. Taking advantage of their speed, the US guards were the key piece in the early lead. Countering the dominating France's size and physicality by running the floor to create open shots on the perimeter.
In the second half, defense became the US's calling card. Anthony Davis sealed the paint for Team US with multiple blocks that led to fast breaks—finding most of their points in the third quarter from these defensive efforts. France didn’t slow down, though. Yabusele continued to push the pace on the US, forcing multiple fast breaks leading to buckets. This cut into the US lead going into the fourth quarter, with Team US struggling to find the bottom of the net themselves.
The 4th turned into a rock fight, as both sides showed some nerves. The French crowd set the scene furiously, and the US could never extend the lead past 11 points. Play devolved as both sides made sloppy mistakes, tossing away possessions. Neither team could find rhythm early in the fourth, with team US maintaining their lead. The French upped the physicality, bodying up the US on every possession and forcing multiple turnovers—the US struggled to find options that worked as they maintained their thin lead.
Curry ultimately stepped up in the 4th, knocking down multiple high-pressure threes. Those threes sealed the game for the USA as they claimed the Olympic gold medal! This is the 5th consecutive gold medal in basketball, with Kevin Durant earning his 4th gold medal.
In a battle of brawn, the reigning NBA MVP secured Serbia a bronze medal. Jokic led the team with a triple-double, scoring 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. The entire Serbian team shot the lights out. Finishing the game, shooting 50% from the field and 40% from 3. They created open looks all over the court and had Germany scrambling to slow them down. Germany could only chase them as Franz Wagner, and Schroder struggled to keep up with the flurry of shots Serbia made.
Germany had their work cut out for them this game, facing a locked-in and dangerous Serbian team. From tip-off, Germany needed help finding their footing against the experienced and quick Serbs. They had nothing to slow down the guards, who chewed them up in the paint and perimeter. Micic dropped 19 off the bench in just 21 minutes for Serbia, becoming their sparkplug off the bench. Every time the Germans started to make a run, the Serbians would come right back. In a game, they showed how experience matters in international basketball, and the Serbian's confidence as a group showed through.
Germany didn’t play a bad game, far from it. They were solid with the ball, but defensively, they had no matchup to slow down Jokic. With the entire Serbian offense flowing through him, he did whatever he wanted. The game rarely felt out of hand for the Serbs as they maintained a lead in every quarter. In what was ultimately a blowout, ending one of the best Olympic Men’s Basketball Tournaments ever!