Krzyzewski finished his tenure as National Team head coach with an 88-1 record, including a ideal 24-0 mark in the Olympics.
Advertisement
For ten of the 12 players on the squad, it was their first gold medal.
Following a late three by Kevin Durant, USA held on to a 19-15 lead after a quarter.
Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler celebrates the United States’ win over Serbia.
Nemanja Nedovic led Serbia with 14 points.
The Americans extended their lead in the third quarter and were up by as many as 41 in the fourth.
Carmelo Anthony also picked up his third gold to go with a bronze, becoming the most decorated male in Olympic basketball history. With his seventh rebound in the game, he surpassed David Robinson with 125 boards in his career.
The game was the last competition in Rio, ending just hours before Sunday night’s closing ceremony.
“I know this is the end. I committed to something”.
“I’d love to see that”.
Krzyzewski, who will continue coaching at powerhouse Duke University, is confident US basketball will continue to thrive, especially with Popovich, five times NBA champion as Spurs head coach, set to take over.
“We got challenged and we showed the world we can redeem ourselves and show everyone why we’re the best athletes in the world”, forward DeMar DeRozan said.
The Americans haven’t lost since, winning 25 straight in the Olympics. She reached in her pocket, pulled out her first gold from London and slipped the medal over her head.
Earlier, Spain edged Australia 89-88 to take home the bronze. Much of the turnaround can be attributed to a renewed defensive effort – a hallmark of Coach K’s previous Olympic teams. Durant led the US with six.
Serbia was on a run of impressive performances in their own right. The US won, 82-76, to advance to the finals where it meets Serbia, an 87-61 victor over Australia in the other semis pairing. In their first Olympic appearance in men’s basketball as an independent nation, Serbia comes away with the silver.
Durant, who joins the NBA Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors next season, had 14 points in the pivotal spurt including a spectacular steal and fast-break slam dunk.
Advertisement
America’s current streak of dominance in men’s basketball started with the Dream Team in 1992 and has only been interrupted so far by Argentina in 2004.
