The players on the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team never doubted they would be standing on the gold-medal platform, even after some close calls in Rio and criticisms they lacked the usual big names and bigger wins.
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The welcoming party included Blue Devils assistant coaches Nate James and Jon Scheyer and others from Duke, and there hugs all around, but there were a number of “Congrats, Coach K!” and “U-S-A!, U-S-A!” shouts in the airport from those who quickly realized it was Krzyzewski returning from Rio.
“It’s just his love for the game”, said US forward Paul George, who completed his own unbelievable story following a horrific leg injury.
In the consolation game for the bronze medal that was played beforehand, Team Spain narrowly defeated Team Australia 89-88. “But Coach just told me to be me, and I went out there and did that”.
“It’s a long journey and I thought we kept getting better and we were at our best in the medal round”.
It was also the farewell game for USA coach Mike Krzyzewski, who will be replaced by San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. The three four-time Olympians have had a tremendous impact on USA Basketball over the past 12 years.
By the time both demonstrations were over, I’m pretty sure the Serbs were the ones left more exposed, which is saying something since the only other thing the guy from Mongolia was wearing were socks. The previous record of 75 games was established from 1992-2002.
Even with four-time Olympians Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Tamika Catchings having likely just played their last game for the USA, the future remains incredibly bright for the team that’s won six consecutive Olympic gold medals and dominated the sport for two decades.
Saving their best for last in a tournament that had been hard, the Americans convincingly won their third consecutive gold medal, beating Serbia 96-66 on Sunday.
Carmelo Anthony scored seven points and added seven rebounds en route to his third gold medal, the most in Olympic basketball history.
The U.S. Olympic Team made itself right at home in Rio.
Serbia’s head coach Sasha Djordjevic, who was a member of the Yugoslavian Olympic team in 1996, said, “I’m proud of both of them (silver medals), but I lost both games”. Like Krzyzewski, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Popovich is a military man who attended the Air Force Academy and has built one of sports’ most successful organizations while winning five championships with the San Antonio Spurs.
“It’s been a joy”, Krzyzewski said. The total ties the record for most points by a player in the gold medal game, which he shares with Adrian Dantley. It’s mindboggling when you think about it what this team has been able to accomplish, this program of the USA Basketball program.
It’s another sign of his maturity, which outgoing USA coach Mike Krzyzewski saw developing 10 years ago.
Anthony announced his retirement from worldwide competition after the game.
But such motivation can only go so far.
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By now, the Americans winning the medal race is nearly commonplace. His wife, Mickie, was in Rio. They passed the torch on to Sue, Dee and I, and now you know whatever happens next, whether Sue and Dee play in another one or not, for me it’s kind of like I’m passing the torch over to whoever that next generation is.
