The U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team ended up right where expected.
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The Americans got their gold, and they did it easily.
They did exactly what they were supposed to do: They won a gold medal.
After a few close calls earlier in the Olympics, this was no contest.
Nike-sponsored baller Kevin Durant’s moves on the court were particularly critical, scoring 30 points during the match on Sunday – the closing day of the Rio Olympics.
It was a fitting send-off for outgoing coach Mike Krzyzewski and a remarkable show of strength by a team without a clutch of stars in Brazil, among them LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
“We did a good job of bottling all that up and unleashed it on Serbia”, George said.
It’s another sign of his maturity, which outgoing US coach Mike Krzyzewski saw developing 10 years ago.
Anthony first gave a teary goodbye to the Olympics after he had served as America’s first four-time men’s basketball Olympian – and first player to collect three gold medals.
Carmelo Anthony, who became the leading scorer for Team USA during the tournament, was emotional in his post-game interview and stated that he was proud that the team could come together and his hopes that the country could do the same.
In the three close games Team USA had in pool play – a 98-88 victory over Australia, a 100-97 win over France and a 94-91 win over Serbia – Durant scored only 43 total points. This rematch looked nothing like that meeting, but it did resemble the final of the 2014 Basketball World Cup, which the Americans won 129-92.
During his stay in Brazil, Anthony became the leading scorer in USA history and he returned late in the second half of Sunday’s rout just so he could snatch one rebound and move past David Robinson on the career list.
Anthony grew over his Olympic run spanning games in Europe, Asia and South America. Anthony had previously become the all time points leader for Team USA during this tournament.
And there was no doubt they would Sunday once Durant heated up.
When the final horn sounded, the USA players shared long hugs with each other and then Krzyzewski.
DeAndre Jordan went to the stands at Carioca Arena and collected an American flag, which he initially wrapped himself in like a blanket before holding it high over his head for all to see.
They dropped three games in the group stage but had the look of a team that could challenge the Americans after almost knocking them off earlier in the tournament and overwhelming Australia in the semifinals. Despite a bad shooting first quarter, just 7-of-20 from the field, the United States took a 19-15 lead going into the second quarter. He finished with 30 points, 24 coming in the first half on nine of 14 shooting (five of eight on threes), with the Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins adding 11 points and 12 rebounds before the break. That 3 made it 52-29 over the stunned Serbs.
While they weren’t ideal as many (unreasonably) expected, this was a fun team to watch during the summer.
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The U.S. men’s basketball team overpowered Serbia, 96-66, to win the last gold medal awarded at the Rio Olympics.
