The U.S. men’s basketball team won its fifth consecutive gold medal with a 98-87 victory over France on Saturday, extending the legacies of several members of the basketball championship.
Stephen Curry scored 12 points in the final 2:47 minutes of the game to lead Team USA to the top of the podium in its first and likely last Olympic appearance.
Tournament MVP LeBron James posted two triple-doubles in Paris before posting 14 points, a game-high 10 assists, six rebounds, two steals and a block against the host nation. Kevin Durant is now the leading scorer in U.S. basketball history and the first player to win four gold medals in men’s Olympic basketball.
But while Jayson Tatum soared to great heights in winning his second gold medal, the three-time All-NBA First Team player endured multiple substitutions against Serbia and had a surprisingly light workload overall.
Tatum later admitted that his experience was “challenging and humbling.”
However, Jaylen Brown made it clear that his Olympic withdrawal is motivation for him going forward. And Tatum could be eternally grateful for that withdrawal if it helps fuel his rise and build a legacy.
Perhaps a coaching change could also help the five-time All-Star improve his Olympic career. According to Evan Sidery of Forbes, Steve Kerr will likely step down as coach of the U.S. national basketball team.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is considered the internal favorite for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
While Kerr explained that Tatum’s limited role is “more a math problem than anything else,” perhaps Spoelstra or whoever takes over will solve the equation with a different formula.
Should Tatum decide to return for a third term with the U.S. national team, Durant’s new record could cost him just one more gold medal. Plus, he’ll be turning 30 in a few months, giving him the opportunity to raise the bar and add to his Olympic legacy, which already includes being the team’s second-leading scorer behind Durant at the Tokyo Olympics.
Grant Hill, the general manager of the U.S. men’s national basketball team, also recently said that the door is open for Jaylen Brown to join that squad.
So while the U.S. may need to fill the void left by the departures of Durant, Curry and James, the Celtics’ star wingers could play a significant role after frustrating Olympic experiences this summer as the U.S. team seeks its sixth consecutive podium finish.
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