Bam Adebayo and Jayson Tatum on their teammates at LeBron James
Bam Adebayo and Jayson Tatum talk about what it’s like to play alongside LeBron James on Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The US men’s national basketball team is heading into the Olympic final on Saturday with a lot of momentum.
However, the opponent will have the home crowd.
After a furious comeback in the fourth quarter of the semifinal against Serbia, the Americans have earned the right to play for their fifth gold medal in a row. To do so, they must defeat hosts France, led by reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.
Both teams are under pressure as US star Kevin Durant tries to become the first male basketball player to win four Olympic gold medals.
Follow the latest news, analysis and highlights from Team USA’s battle against France.
PARIS — LeBron James’s easy baskets and USA’s 3-pointers helped the USA take a 49-41 halftime lead over France in the gold medal game.
James had seven points, five rebounds and two assists, and the U.S. made nine 3-pointers in the first half. Devin Booker had 13 points, a team-high, and Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Anthony Edwards each had six points for the U.S.
The U.S. trailed 25-24 but ended the half on a 25-16 run and had a 49-39 lead just before France’s Guerschon Yabusele closed the half with a last-second layup. Yabusele scored the game’s highest number of points with 15, and rising NBA star Victor Wembanyama had his best offensive game of the Olympics with 13 points for France.
France, on the other hand, made 3 of 16 three-point shots and was outscored 17-6 in fast breaks.
Paris — France leads 8-0. Bilal Coulibaly’s dunk on a fast break gave France a 25-24 lead with 7:10 left in the second quarter. U.S. coach Steve Kerr called a timeout to calm the U.S. offense and bring LeBron James, Steph Curry and Devin Booker back into the game.
PARIS – France’s Victor Wembanyama got off to a strong start with seven points, including two on a spectacular dunk, but the United States leads 20-15 after the first quarter.
The USA scores easy baskets in transition after France misses. Devin Booker leads the USA with seven points, Anthony Edwards has six points with two 3-pointers and LeBron James has two points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
The USA is making 42% of its field shots and 4 of 11 three-pointers. France is making 35% of its field shots and 1 of 9 three-pointers.
Paris – Tony Parker, Scottie Pippen, Carmelo Anthony and Pau Gasol are among the former NBA stars who attended the gold medal game between the USA and France.
The US men were leading 17-14 with two minutes left in the first quarter. Devin Booker and Victor Wembanyama were the top scorers with 7 points each.
When will the US men’s basketball team next play at the Olympic Games in Paris?
The US national team will face France in the gold medal game today, Saturday, August 10th.
When is the US men’s basketball game against France?
Kickoff for the USA vs France game is at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The men’s basketball gold medal final can be watched on Peacock, NBC and Telemundo.
There will be a repeat broadcast on the USA Network at midnight ET.
US basketball team Olympic squad
*Each asterisk represents participation in the Olympic Games (including the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris).
- **Anthony DavisLos Angeles Lakers
- *Anthony EdwardsMinnesota Timberwolves
- **Bam AdebayoMiami Heat
- *Derrick WhiteBoston Celtics
- **Devin BookerPhoenix Suns
- **Jayson TatumBoston Celtics
- *Joel EmbiidPhiladelphia 76ers
- **Jrue HolidayBoston Celtics
- ****Kevin DurantPhoenix Suns
- ****LeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers
- *Stephen CurryGolden State Warriors
- *Tyrese HaliburtonIndiana Pacers
US coach Steve Kerr has brought Kevin Durant into the starting lineup for the gold medal game against France. It will be Durant’s first start at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. He will start alongside LeBron James, Steph Curry, Joel Embiid and Devin Booker. Durant missed the five US preseason games because of a calf injury and Kerr decided it was best to bring Durant off the bench to start at the Olympics.
The starting eleven of the US team against France in the gold medal game:
- Stephen Curry
- Devin Booker
- LeBron James
- Kevin Durant
- Joel Embiid
The starting eleven of the French national team against the USA in the gold medal match:
- Victor Wembanyama
- Guerschon Yabusele
- Isaia Cordinier
- Nick Batum
- Frank Ntilikina
LeBron James was not exactly reserved when choosing his sneakers for the final against France: he is wearing glittery gold basketball shoes from Nike.
About an hour before the game begins, U.S. assistant coaches Erik Spoelstra, Ty Lue and Mark Few work with U.S. players, including LeBron James, who was the first American to take the court. Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo also warm up.
Victor Wembanyama received a warm welcome from the French fans as he entered the pitch for his pre-match training session. Evan Fournier joined Wembanyama a few minutes later.
Since making changes to its starting lineup following the group stage of men’s 5×5 basketball, France has played its best Olympic basketball, defeating Canada and Germany to reach the gold medal game against the United States, with both teams coming off emotional victories in the semifinals.
France coach Vincent Collet benched Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier and replaced them with Guerschon Yabusele and Isaia Cordinier. It worked. Fournier still gets regular playing time, but Gobert’s playing time has been reduced and France is assured of at least a silver medal.
Can France win gold? It will need to use its size and a defense anchored by 7-foot-1 rising NBA star Victor Wembanyama to find enough offensive resistance against the United States. France, which lost to the United States in the gold medal game at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, will need to play a near-perfect game against a strong and talented U.S. team that will be ready for the atmosphere of an away game at Paris’ Bercy Arena.
- Dan Wolken: USA 90, France 73
- Jeff Zillgitt: USA 94, France 80
6 August: Serbia 93, Germany 83
Serbia recovered from a heartbreaking 95-91 loss to the USA in the semifinals to prevent Germany from winning its first Olympic medal in the men’s 5×5.
Serbia’s three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had 19 points, 12 rebound assists and 11 assists-rebounds, and teammate Vasilije Micic scored 19 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 16 points for Serbia, which won silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
US men’s basketball schedule for the Olympic Games in Paris
The US men’s national team won the group stage 3-0 and the quarterfinals and semifinals. Here are the dates of the US games:
- Sunday, July 28: USA 110, Serbia 84
- Wednesday, July 31: USA 103, South Sudan 86
- Saturday, August 3: USA 104, Puerto Rico 83
- Tuesday, August 6: USA 122, Brazil 87
- Thursday, August 8: USA 95, Serbia 91
- Saturday: USA vs. France, 3:30 p.m. ET in the gold medal game
July 27
- Australia 92, Spain 80
- Germany 97, Japan 77
- France 78, Brazil 66
- Canada 86, Canada 79
July 28
- South Sudan 90, Puerto Rico 79
- United States 110, Serbia 84
July 30
- Spain 84, Greece 77
- Canada 93, Australia 83
- France 94, Japan 90 (OT)
- Germany 86, Brazil 73
July 31
- Serbia 107, Puerto Rico 66
- United States 103, South Sudan 86
2 August
- Brazil 102, Japan 84
- Greece 77, Australia 71
- Canada 88, Spain 85
- Germany 85, France 71
3 August
- United States 104, Puerto Rico 83
- Serbia 96, South Sudan 85
