LeBron James and Kevin Durant lead the USA national team to gold at the Olympics
30 july 2024 в 06:13
LeBron James and Kevin Durant quickly found their rhythm at the Olympics, helping the USA men’s basketball team move towards their goal of a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal at these summer games, defeating Serbia 110−84 on Sunday.
James, a 20-time NBA All-Star and the all-time leading scorer in NBA history as of last year, had not participated in the Olympics for 12 years but has three Olympic medals to his name: two golds from 2012 and 2008, and a bronze from 2004.
As for Durant, a four-time Olympian, he made his debut this summer but already has three gold medals under his belt. He hopes to become the most decorated male basketball player, surpassing Carmelo Anthony, who has three gold medals and a bronze from the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Durant missed all five exhibition games that the USA team played before Paris due to a calf strain. However, as the all-time leading scorer in men’s Olympic basketball history, Durant made his first eight shots on his way to 23 points in less than 17 minutes. James added 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
«Everyone played their role well», - Durant said. «My role was to come in and provide spacing and accurate shots for the team, and I’m glad I was able to execute that».
USA head coach Steve Kerr, who spent three seasons with Durant on the Golden State Warriors, brought Durant off the bench instead of using him in the starting lineup.
«More than any player I’ve ever worked with, when he comes back from a long absence, you don’t notice it», - Kerr said.
The NBA superstars combined to make 18 of 22 shots — 8 of 9 for Durant, 9 of 13 for James — and the USA team had no trouble with the silver medalists from last year’s World Championship from the Philippines. Jrue Holiday scored 15 points, Devin Booker had 12, and Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry added 11 points each for the USA.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic scored 20 points for Serbia, while Bogdan Bogdanovic had 14.
«This is the best game we’ve played so far», - James said after the Americans improved to 6−0 this summer, 1−0 in the tournament that matters.
Both teams will return to action on Wednesday, with the USA facing newcomers from South Sudan — a rematch of a game that ended in a 101−100 victory for the Americans in an exhibition match in London earlier this month, and Serbia playing against Puerto Rico, which could essentially be a knockout game for both teams
James, a 20-time NBA All-Star and the all-time leading scorer in NBA history as of last year, had not participated in the Olympics for 12 years but has three Olympic medals to his name: two golds from 2012 and 2008, and a bronze from 2004.
As for Durant, a four-time Olympian, he made his debut this summer but already has three gold medals under his belt. He hopes to become the most decorated male basketball player, surpassing Carmelo Anthony, who has three gold medals and a bronze from the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Durant missed all five exhibition games that the USA team played before Paris due to a calf strain. However, as the all-time leading scorer in men’s Olympic basketball history, Durant made his first eight shots on his way to 23 points in less than 17 minutes. James added 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
«Everyone played their role well», - Durant said. «My role was to come in and provide spacing and accurate shots for the team, and I’m glad I was able to execute that».
USA head coach Steve Kerr, who spent three seasons with Durant on the Golden State Warriors, brought Durant off the bench instead of using him in the starting lineup.
«More than any player I’ve ever worked with, when he comes back from a long absence, you don’t notice it», - Kerr said.
The NBA superstars combined to make 18 of 22 shots — 8 of 9 for Durant, 9 of 13 for James — and the USA team had no trouble with the silver medalists from last year’s World Championship from the Philippines. Jrue Holiday scored 15 points, Devin Booker had 12, and Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry added 11 points each for the USA.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic scored 20 points for Serbia, while Bogdan Bogdanovic had 14.
«This is the best game we’ve played so far», - James said after the Americans improved to 6−0 this summer, 1−0 in the tournament that matters.
Both teams will return to action on Wednesday, with the USA facing newcomers from South Sudan — a rematch of a game that ended in a 101−100 victory for the Americans in an exhibition match in London earlier this month, and Serbia playing against Puerto Rico, which could essentially be a knockout game for both teams
© Kolganov Andrey
