After the struggles of the 2020-2021 team in Tokyo, and the Olympics being in France, it looked like Team USA was finally not going to win the gold. The French had new NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama, NBA defensive player of the team Rudy Gobert, and a host of former NBA players. The US is coming off its worst gold medal performance in history.

One positive thing for the US was in late 2022 Stephen Curry, who had played for Team USA in the World Championships but never the Olympics, made a statement that he would like to win a gold medal and would like to play with Lebron James. James followed up the comment saying it would be fun. Soon other elite level NBA players stated their desire to play for the team

The US got more good news when Joel Embiid announced he would play for the US and not France. Embiid born in Cameroon, has both American and French citizenship. Having the 2023 MVP joining two former MVPs would make the US very tough. The US would add a fourth MVP when Kevin Durant announced he would also play.

Soon a lot of American players were committed to playing and newly christened head coach Steve Kerr had a lot of tough decisions to make. In addition to the four former MVP’s, Kerr added Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and Devin Booker. The roster controversially left off Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.

Training camp began in July in Las Vegas. Team USA once again brought in select team players to participate and actually play in exhibition games. The Select team consisted of young players and players familiar with the international game, the players brought in where Jalen Duren, Cooper Flagg, Langston Galloway, Nigel Hayes, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jaime Jaquez Jr, and Micah Potter.

As the first game was set to get underaway, the team announced the Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant would both be out, and than announced that Derrick White would replace Leonard.

The US played its first exhibition game on July 10, 2024, in Las Vegas vs Canada. After a slow start that seen the Americans down 8 points, the US took control of the game and got a comfortable win 86-72

Five days later team USA flew to Abu Dhabi to take on Australia. The US got out to a huge lead in the 3rd quarter, but the Aussies slowly chipped into it. The US ended up winning 98-92 in a game that was not as close as the score would suggest.

Two days later the US would take on Serbia. Despite having 3 time and current reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, the Serbians proved no match to team USA and the Americans won 105-79.

The team flew to London to take on South Sudan. The US had never played South Sudan as its the newest recognized country in the world and was playing in its first major international competition. The South Sudanese came out with something to prove and quickly found themselves in control of the game. The Americans had no answers for Carlik Jones and Marial Shayok. The US trailed 58-44 at the half, one of their largest halftime deficits ever.

The US came roaring back in the third quarter and ended up taking the lead 79-76 going into the court, but the South Sudanese would not go away. They kept with team USA and looked like they were about to pull the biggest upset in basketball history. However, Lebron James took over and with less than 8 seconds left scored the game winning layup too give the US a 101-100 win.

The US’ last exhibition game was against the World Champions Germany. The US got out to a nice start but never could put the Germans away and actually trailed late in the fourth quarter before Lebron James scored 11 straight points to win the game for the Americans. Lebron ended up being called by the media LeCaptain America, and the team picked up the nickname “The Avengers”

The Olympic tournament was similar to what was used in Tokyo 3 years prior. The host nation (France) got a bid, and the top two teams from the Americas tournament (Canada and USA), and Europe (Germany and Serbia) also got bids. Oceania (Australia) and Africa (South Sudan) got their champions in as well. The final four spots were won by teams who won their bracket of the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournaments. Those teams were Spain, Brazil, Greece, and Puerto Rico.

Once again teams were placed in Pot’s and the US was once again in the top pot with Spain and Germany.

The US was slotted in Group C with Puerto Rico, Serbia and South Sudan.

During the opening ceremonies, Lebron James was named the flag bearer for the United States and carried the flag with Coco Gauff on the barge that took Team USA down the Sienne River.

The US began Olympic play on July 28th vs Serbia. The US got Kevin Durant back, who had sat out all the exhibition games with an injury. Durant was amazing in his returning scoring 23 points on near perfect shooting as the US crushed Serbia 110-84

Three days later the US had another rematch with a team from exhibition play, this time with South Sudan. This game was not close, the US put it away fairly early and won 103-86

The final Group C opponent was Puerto Rico, and while the Puerto Ricans kept it close early the US ended up winning convincingly 104-83.

At 3-0 the US topped Group C, and Serbia came in 2nd and both advanced to the quarterfinals. Upsetting to many basketball fans South Sudan finished 3rd, and was the last place 3rd place team and did not advance, and neither did Puerto Rico who finished fourth.

The US faced Brazil in the quarterfinals and the game ended up being the biggest blowout of the tournament for the Americans. Brazil was never even close in the game and the US won 122-87.

The semifinals game vs Serbia would be the polar opposite from the Brazil game for the US. The Serbians, who the US had easily beaten twice in the last two weeks, came out blasting. Within minutes the US found themselves down 10 points. The start of this game looked a lot like the loss to Puerto Rico in 2004, as the US had no answers defensively and could not find its offense. Things got worse in the 2nd half and the US trailed 54-43 at the half.

The Serbs kept pouring it on the US in the 3rd quarter and grew their lead to 17 points. It looked like the US was in danger of not even medaling in this Olympics. The fourth quarter was a different story however, as James and Curry lit the Serbians defense up as the Americans outscored them 32-15 to take a 95-91 victory and advance to the gold medal game.

Following the game Serbian guard Bogdan Bogdanovic and Serbia president Aleksandar Vucic both made comments about the officiating.

The US would have a rematch from the 2021 gold medal game against France. The French believed they could win this game, as it was on their home floor and they had been playing very well after a rough start to Olympic play. The US was cautious about this game and prevented France from setting the tone early. The game was close, but the US was very much in control.

The game ended up going down to the wire, but after a Wembanyama three-pointer cut the US lead to just 3 points with minutes to play, and 12,000 screaming French fans seeking the upset, the US turned to Steph Curry to deliver a golden moment and Curry did just that. Curry hit four 3 pointers and assured the US the gold medal. The US won 98-87.

The gold medal was the United State’s 17th gold medal and expanded their streak of consecutive gold medals to 5, which is the 2nd longest streak in Olympic history behind the US’ 7 gold medals from 1936-1968.

Lebron James was named MVP of the Olympics, Victory Wembanyama was named Rising Star, Aleksa Avramovic was named Best Defensive Player, and Vincent Collet was named best coach. The FIBA all-star five was guards Steph Curry and Dennis Schroder, Forward Lebron James, and center Nikola Jokic and Victory Wembanyama. A FIBA all-second team was also announced consisting of gurds Bogdan Bogdanovic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Anteokounmpo, Franz Wagner, and Guerschon Yabusele.