The United States reinforced their dominance in Olympic men’s basketball by overpowering host nation France 98–87 to clinch a fifth consecutive gold medal in front of a raucous crowd at the Bercy Arena in Paris.
Backed by a star-studded roster filled with NBA royalty, the Americans, led by LeBron James and Stephen Curry, rose to the occasion in a high-pressure final, silencing a partisan crowd of nearly 20,000 fans and reaffirming their status as the benchmark of international basketball.
The victory saw the current U.S. squad emulate the legendary 1992 “Dream Team”, a comparison that has followed them throughout the tournament. While France showed tremendous heart and resilience on home soil, the Americans’ depth, experience, and late-game execution ultimately proved decisive.
France refused to fade quietly and mounted a spirited comeback in the final quarter, cutting the deficit to just three points at 82–79 as tension filled the arena. But when the pressure peaked, Curry delivered yet again. The Golden State Warriors star drained a crucial three-pointer to restore breathing room before adding three more long-range shots in quick succession, sparking a decisive late surge.
LeBron James was full of praise for his teammate after the final buzzer.
“You just simply marvel at his talent,” James said. “I’ve seen it plenty of times on the opposite side, and you just have to keep finding ways to get him the ball.”
Virtually every U.S. Olympic team since Barcelona 1992 has been measured against the iconic Jordan-led Dream Team. While six American teams have now won Olympic gold since then, few have carried the same aura as this modern ensemble.
With a roster boasting four NBA regular-season MVPs, James, Curry, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid, alongside 11 NBA All-Stars and seven NBA champions, this generation now deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the legends who came before them.
Curry was the centerpiece of the celebrations when the final horn sounded, embraced by teammates and wrapped in the Stars and Stripes by James as confetti fell around the court.
Head coach Steve Kerr singled out Curry’s late heroics while emphasizing the collective effort.
“Stephen ended up being the difference,” Kerr said. “That flurry at the end was incredible. I’ve seen it a few times, but it never gets old. Still, it’s about the whole group, all 12 guys, and the work they’ve put in over the last six weeks.”
For Curry, the triumph carried both joy and relief.
“There’s a lot of relief,” he said. “It wasn’t easy, but I’m so excited. This is everything I wanted it to be, and more.”
With gold secured on French soil, Team USA once again confirmed their supremacy, leaving Paris with history made and a legacy further strengthened.
