2024 Basketball Olympics
Jaime Halstuch
Staff Writer
Once again, the United States of America has, without hesitation, dominated the Olympic basketball tournament in both the men’s and women’s divisions. However, this victory doesn’t seem as sweet as others in the past. The fear of other nations challenging our nation’s dominance in basketball keeps growing after every NBA draft, every NBA All-Star, and every international tournament. However, once again, basketball came home, and that fear can be postponed to another Olympic tournament.
On the women’s side, led by the legendary Diana Taurasi, the US shared group C with Belgium, Germany, and Japan. Beating Japan 102-76, Belgium 87-74, and finally Germany 87-68. The US women’s team had no trouble dominating the group stage with six points out of six possible and a point differential of +58. The quarterfinals saw the US facing Nigeria, a Nigerian team that qualified as the best 3rd seed with a 2-1 record and a +1-point differential in the group stage; the US beat them 88-74. Australia didn’t have a brilliant group stage; they had the same record as Nigeria but with a point differential of -1; however, they had an impressive quarterfinals performance, beating Serbia by 18 points. But once again, they were no match for the US, who easily defeated them by 21 points in a game that ended 85-64. The final faced the US against the home team, France.
It was a very complicated game that saw both teams with 25 points at the half. The US won the third quarter by two points, and in the last three minutes of the fourth quarter, it came down to a free-throw battle. There were 12 free throws between both teams in those final three minutes, with only one miss. Kahleah Cooper made two free throws with 5 seconds left in the clock to extend the lead to three points. Finally, Gabby Williams, when France needed a three, took a jumper and shortened the difference to only one point with one second left. In a game that ended 67-66, the US women’s basketball team took gold once again.
On the men’s side led by Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and first-time Olympian Steph Curry, the US Men’s basketball team filled up with all-stars knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as past times. Sharing group C with Puerto Rico, 3-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic’s Serbia, and South Sudan. During the first game against Serbia, Kevin Durant and Lebron James led the team to a dominant 110- 84 victory. But the most impressive part about that game was that the defense held Jokic to only five points. The second game was against South Sudan, yes, that same South Sudan team that weeks before was one shot away from beating the US. However, that was a one-time thing, and the US took an easy 103-86 victory. Puerto Rico wasn’t a match for this dream team either, as the US beat them 104-83—perfect group stage, six points out of six possible with a +64-point difference. Brazil wasn’t a tough opposing team in the quarterfinals as the US, led by Devin Booker with 18 points, won the game 122-87. The semifinals matched the dream team with Serbia once again. It was a complicated game in which the US lost the first three quarters and came into the fourth trailing by 11 points. But Lebron took the responsibility and defended Jokic man to man for the whole quarter. Meanwhile, Steph Curry did what he did best and put those points up on the board, and the US came back to win the game 95-91. Finally, like the women’s, the Dream Team faced the home team, France, in the final.
Although they didn’t have a brilliant tournament, it was a French team that did have the NBA Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama, and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert. However, they were no match for Steph Curry, who dropped 24 points (all 3-pointers), and Lebron James, who had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Showing the world that international players are improving every day, and leading to the Gold Medal, the US is still at the top of the world of basketball.
Contact Jaime at jaime.halstuch@student.shu.edu