Team USA survived a scare from Serbia, delivering one of the most exciting basketball games in recent history. It all set the stage for the gold medal game against France, with LeBron James and Stephen Curry facing VIctor Wembanyama in Paris.
All of the anticipation and hype were fulfilled. In a matchup between arguably the most talented Team USA roster ever and the future face of basketball (Wembyanyama), the United States and France delivered a clash that the entire basketball world enjoyed. Here are the winners and losers from Team USA’s 98-87 win.
Winner: Guerschon Yabusele, France
The entire world knew about Victor Wembanyama long before this game, but everyone was introduced to Guerschon Yabusele on Saturday. Taken by the Boston Celtics with the 16th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-8 forward played in 74 career games (2017-’19), averaging 2.3 PPG in his NBA career. Facing Team USA, he erupted for 15 first-half points (5-for-10 from the field) and kept things close until Wembanyama settled in and took over. We’re probably not going to see Yabusele in the NBA next season, however, as he seems quite happy as a star with Real Madrid.
- Guerschon Yavusele stats: 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Also Read: Best NBA players ever
Loser: Rudy Gobert, France
Rudy Gobert’s biggest contribution to the gold medal game seemed to be serving as the recipient of trash talk from Anthony Edwards and other NBA stars. It’s a role he is familiar with from the Western Conference Finals. France pulled Gobert from its starting lineup during the tournament for a reason and it’s about a lot more than just a minor injury. The Summer Olympics showed the same thing as what we see in the NBA, great teams and All-Star bigs love exploiting Gobert.
- Rudy Gobert stats: 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 fouls
Winner: Devin Booker, Team USA
The United States needed a spark early when Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant’s shots weren’t falling, Devin Booker came through. He delivered 13 points in the first half, shooting 5-for-7 from the field with 2 rebounds and 2 assists. While he wasn’t as present on the box score in the second half, Booker played whatever role Team USA needed. Let’s also not forget his defense against Serbia is a big reason why the team reached the gold medal game.
- Devin Booker stats: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Related: Where NBA revenue comes from
Loser: Joel Embiid, Team USA
The United States brought Joel Embiid to the Paris Olympics for two matchups; Serbia and France. Credit to the Philadelphia 76ers star for playing a critical role offensively in the semifinal, but he was largely absent on Saturday. Embiid brought very little defensively and didn’t make a real difference on the glass and Kerr eventually pulled him in favor of Anthony Davis. Embiid certainly still deserves a gold medal, but he also won’t necessarily be missed by the United States in the 2028 Olympics.
- Joel Embiid stats: 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Also Read: Best second-round picks in NBA history
Winner: Victor Wembanyama, France
It’s just a matter of time until Victor Wembanyama is the best basketball player in the world. France’s equivalent of LeBron James, Wembanyama came through in the gold medal game with multiple threes, 20-plus points, he led the team in rebounds and played his usual excellent defense. He didn’t get the gold medal, but something tells us he’ll win one at some point for France.
- Victor Wembanyama stats: 26 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Related: Love sports? Check out Sportsnaut.com for analysis, rankings and news
Loser: Tyrese Haliburton, Team USA
Indiana Pacers fans are rightfully upset they didn’t get to see their favorite player take the court for Team USA in the final games. On a team with so many shooters, there’s a valid argument that Haliburton’s phenomenal vision and passing skills would be a great fit. The fact that Steve Kerr kept Haliburton on the bench is a testament to how bad Haliburton’s defense is. The decision is more than justified, especially now that Team USA won its gold medal. Needless to say, Haliburton has something he needs to work on if he wants to have a bigger role in the 2028 Olympics.
- Tyrese Haliburton stats: 0 minutes played
Also Read: NFL power rankings 2024
Winner: Stephen Curry, Team USA
The best shooter in NBA history only had one thing missing from his resume, a gold medal. As he’s done throughout his career, especially on the biggest stage, Curry’s shot made the difference in the biggest moments. No shot stands out more than his triple with 2:48 remaining. France had turned a 10-point deficit into a three-point game with the home crowd going crazy. Curry silenced France. The big shots, the vision, the clutch gene. Curry is the biggest reason why the United States rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Serbia and knocked out France to win the gold medal.
- Stephen Curry stats: 24 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound (8-for-13 form three_
Also Read: Top 100 NFL players 2024
Winner: LeBron James, Team USA
Remember these Summer Olympics. It’s almost certainly the last time we’ll see LeBron James representing Team USA. We’ll also remind you that he is 39 years old and he rarely left the court while bringing the intensity he’s delivered in the NBA Finals. No, James didn’t light up the scoreboard, but he did reach double figures and he stepped up as a facilitator. Curry’s performance will rightfully get a majority of the attention, but what LeBron did just a few months shy of his 40th birthday is a reminder of why some view him as the best basketball player ever.
- LeBron James stats: 14 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Also Read: NFL predictions 2024