Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant Lead Team USA to 17th Olympic Gold Medal Over France in Paris

Mar. 15, 2025

Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.Photo:ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty

ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty

Team USA powered through a roaring crowd of French fans to secure gold over the 2024 host country at theParis Olympics.

The U.S. men’s basketball team defeated France 98-87and won their fifth consecutive gold medal, bringing Team USA Basketball’s all-time Olympic gold wins to 17 on Saturday, Aug 10.

As expected, the American basketball stars had to pull off the victory in an arena that dearly hoped Team France would win their first Olympic gold in basketball on home soil.

But 24 points fromStephen Curry, 15 fromKevin Durantand 14 more fromLeBron James— sporting a fitting pair of gold sneakers — got the job done for Team USA in what also served as a rematch for the two teams who played each other in thebasketball final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with the same result.

James, 39, now has three gold medals to his name, in addition to the bronze medal Team USA disappointingly earned in 2004.

LeBron James reacts in the men’s Gold Medal basketball match.ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty

When PEOPLE asked James — who was named Olympic MVP during the medal ceremony — how he felt about defeating France on their home soil, he said, “It was great. I think we wouldn’t want no other way to be able to face off the host team, so it was a great atmosphere,” while speaking to reporters after the game.

Of the victory overall, James told reporters, “This is what we wanted. We all came here for one common goal and we took care of business.”

The men’s final brought out plenty of A-listers to Bercy Arena, including Jimmy Fallon, gold medalistSha’Carri Richardson, French actor Omar Sy,Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe.

Jimmy Fallon, Sha’Carri Richardson and Carmelo Anthony watch the men’s basketball final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

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Tensions were high from the start at Bercy Arena, with Durant sizing up Frank Ntilikina of France early in the game. In the second quarter, a referee’s whistle was needed to separateBam Adebayoof Team USA and France’s Guerschon Yabusele.

With Saturday’s victory, Durant is now the most decorated U.S. basketball player of all time.

Kevin Durant of Team USA and Frank Ntilikina of France exchange words in men’s Olympic basketball final.PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty

PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty

The loudest reaction from Team France supporters in the building, however, occurred each timeJoel Embiidgot his hands on the ball, eliciting roaring boos that the Cameroon native powered through to contribute to his team’s gold medal win.

Embiid — who became a target for French basketball fans when he chose to play for Team USA over Team France — scored only four points on Saturday, including a pair of free throws that incited nearly-deafening noise from the crowd, but contributed to the win with some big defensive plays.

Before Saturday’s matchup, the Olympic championsnarrowly advanced to the finalafter spending most of their semifinal round against Serbia in a double-digit deficit on Aug. 8.

It was a heroic effort from four-time NBA champion Curry, who scored 36 points in the United States' comeback win.

After the semifinal, Curry told reporters, including PEOPLE, “I came into this experience thinking that this would be my one and only time to play in the Olympics and experience this stage. I don’t want to be on the team that didn’t make it to the gold medal game and get a gold medal on my one opportunity here. So all that stuff you’re thinking about while you’re still just trying to have fun playing the game that you love.”

source: people.com