Despite a major scare against Serbia in the semifinal contest, Team USA escapes France to win gold at the Paris Olympics. Although the United States has won each of their last five trips, this was arguably the team’s biggest challenge in recent history. They rolled through pool play and beat opponents by at least 17 points in that three-game stretch. After thwarting Brazil in the opening round of tournament play, everything felt according to plan. Then, Serbia played three quarters of near-perfect basketball and legitimately threatened the United States’ chances of advancing. It took heroic performances down the stretch from Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and even Joel Embiid to come out victorious. After narrowly escaping disaster, they took care of business versus France.
However, there was more drama surrounding roles and playing time than anything else. Although the Embiid-Anthony Davis minutes distribution raised questions at times, the discussion was headlined by Jayson Tatum’s lack of opportunities. Let’s collectively acknowledge that Tatum is, without question, one of the best five or so guys in the world. Fresh off a title and three consecutive All-NBA First Team selections, it seemed there was (understandably) an expectation that he’d be a focal point. He played fairly decent in the exhibition matches but certainly didn’t dominate.
Fast-forward through Saturday and Tatum played roughly 70 minutes across six games (including a pair of DNPs). Ultimately, multiple things can be true. Tatum can be one of the most talented players alive and still not fit within the structure of a LeBron James-centric offense. That’s exactly the case. Guys must be able to spot-up without the ball and hit jumpers to play alongside LeBron. Oddly enough, Tatum has been an effective catch-and-shoot option since entering the NBA, yet he doesn’t attempt a ton of those shots. Being that he’s hit between 38-47% off the catch every year of his career, it’s actually quite strange how poorly he shot the ball during Olympic play (0-16 on jumpers, including exhibition contests). Add in his general inefficiency, 8-24 from the floor and 0-5 from three, and the lack of chances was somewhat justified.
The two big winners from these Olympics were Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker. It seems the entire world is now familiar with Holiday’s status as the ultimate winning piece. His incredibly malleable, low-maintenance identity allowed him to consistently stand out as one of the most impactful individuals on the court. Similarly, Booker made a lasting impression in a complimentary role. Largely known for his ability to score the ball at a high volume, he shined by being able to defend, hit shots, and keep the offense flowing. The value that both players brought to the table cannot be overstated.
The trio of Embiid, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis each had key moments and notable performances. Steve Kerr seemed more than comfortable leaning on each guy for specific matchups. Derrick White (like Holiday) brings so much unexpected value to any collection of players, and that was further evidenced the moment he got added to the roster. Many people had high expectations for Anthony Edwards coming in, but he needs more time to transition into being the face of the NBA. Even still, it’s easy to envision a scenario where he’s a focal point in the 2028 Olympics. Tyrese Haliburton didn’t play much yet provided this team with positivity and professionalism.
In reality, everything came down to LeBron, Curry, and Durant. After last season, it felt like LeBron was finally starting to show signs of aging. However, these Olympic games (clearly) solidified that he’s still one of the best two or three players on the planet. LeBron completely controls the game and knows exactly when to assert himself. It’s genuinely bizarre to watch a player this dominant at such a late stage of his career. Not only is he still strong and physical enough to do whatever he wants, but his unique understanding of the game far supersedes that of anyone else in basketball. LeBron ran point guard for this team and looked amazing the entire time. Meanwhile, Curry stepped up when he was needed most. After somewhat of a shaky start to Olympic play, he put forth two of the most impressive jump-shooting displays in the sport’s history. His showing against France was necessary, but the United States likely loses to Serbia without an all-time performance from Curry. For a guy whose health was questionable coming into Paris, Durant quickly found himself in a leadership position. Even as he’s aged, he’s still clearly one of the best to ever play the game. Durant scored the ball at an efficient, timely rate and consistently elevated his ability in critical moments. It was a highly anticipated event that proved to be an extremely entertaining affair. Now, it’s time to prepare for 2028.