Golden summer for USA after all
SAITAMA, Japan — Nothing about this summer was easy for the U.S. men’s basketball team, including a gold medal matchup at the Tokyo Games.
The Americans expected nothing less, and in the end, their Olympic reign lives on.
Kevin Durant scored 29 points and joined Carmelo Anthony as the only threetime men’s gold medalists in Olympic history, and the United States held off France 87-82 to end a summer that started with sputters but closed with celebration.
“Every championship is special, and the group you’re with is special, but I can be honest and say this is the most responsibility I’ve ever felt,” said U.S. coach Gregg Popovich, who adds this gold to five NBA titles he has won as coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
“You’re playing for so many people that are watching and for a country, and other countries (are) involved. The responsibility was awesome. I felt it every day for several years now. I’m feeling pretty light now and looking forward to getting back to the hotel.”
Wine was awaiting, and so was a hero’s welcome from the U.S. women’s team when the men returned to the team hotel. Later Saturday night, after Australia defeated Slovenia 107-93 to win bronze, Popovich and his team returned to the arena for their gold medals. One player would drape the prize over another’s neck, then they watched the American flag get raised and “The Star-Spangled Banner” blare for them one more time.
“Everybody was questioning us,” forward Draymond Green. “This is special.”
Durant sealed the win with two free throws with 8.8 seconds left, making the outcome academic. The lead was five, France’s final possession was irrelevant and it was over. The U.S. players gathered for a hug at midcourt, Durant, Green and Bam Adebayo wrapped themselves in American flags,
Popovich had a long embrace with his assistants and the journey was complete.
“I’m so happy for Pop, the staff, the players, the country,” said a teary-eyed USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo, who was overseeing the men’s program for a fourth and final Olympics and won gold in each one. “It’s a great way to finish.”
Jayson Tatum added 19 points and Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard 11 each for the Americans, who knew nothing but gold would make this trip a success.
“I think it’s more joy than relief, but definitely some relief,” Lillard said. “Because of the expectations that get placed on Team USA, obviously it’s going to be some relief.”
Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert each scored 16 for France, which now has three silver medals — all of them after losses to the United States in the final. France beat the Americans 83-76 in their opening matchup of the Tokyo Games, but that is now relegated to a footnote in the story of Team USA’s overall Olympic dominance.
In 19 trips, the Americans have never gone home without a medal, and 16 times it has been gold.
This U.S. team was one that seemed vulnerable when the summer started with losses in its first two exhibitions, wasn’t even complete when the Olympics began because three players were in the NBA Finals, lost Bradley Beal to coronavirus protocols before heading to Japan and had dropped its past two meetings with France.
And yet the Americans are Olympic champions again.
“Each and every one of us put in that work every single day, from coaches to the trainers to the players,” Durant said. “We all came in with that goal of, ‘Let’s finish this thing off. Let’s build a family. Let’s build this team. Let’s grow this team every day.’ … Man, it’s just incredible to be a part of something so special, and I’m bonding with these guys for life, this family for life.”