The 2024 Paris Olympics have concluded which featured many
rising stars. All the many faces from different countries
competing for their rightful place in Olympic galore. For Team
USA Men’s basketball, this meant more than anything. Twilight
superstars in LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry stole
the show. What they embarked on went something beyond
basketball, it became a force.
To say the “old” guys were passed their primes is an
understatement; the sports media pundits were ready to throw
strays and utter MJ’s 1992 Dream Team would outclass the
competition. Oh, let’s see here folks: 92 Olympics didn’t have
near the competition like we see today in basketball. I’ll save
my final thoughts for the end…
What we witnessed in Paris was needed; Curry heard all the
noise about being old and out of shape. He didn’t flinch, stayed
in the moment, and let his game do the talking. As he unleased
against Serbia, the “greatest shooter” put Team USA on his shoulders.
We needed every bit of those points to reach the
gold medal game. “Chef” Curry started cooking late in the
fourth against France and the rest is history.
Back to LeBron James, still playing elite basketball at this phase
is beyond imaginable words. His leadership and ability to make
guys better has been undervalued. James’ aura was felt during
exhibition games in Las Vegas. Everyone was focused and
locked into the task at hand.
You can’t coach leadership and he’s been doing that his whole
career since day one. James’ run in this Olympics was met with
strays early on in part of the media waiting for him to fail.
Nevertheless, proved them wrong by playing a third option and
allowing Curry, Durant, and Edwards light up the scoreboard.
James’ playmaking abilities and creating his own shot were
needed as well.
Again, age 39 and still playing like he’s 29 is nothing we’ve
never seen. MJ wasn’t doing this at the end of his career. What
fans fail to realize is the pure greatness of James. This man has
lived up to the pressure and succeeded beyond measures.
This gold medal run meant the chance to restore order as USA having the best players in basketball.
To the final twilight superstar in Kevin Durant, we know him by
many monikers. For KD, he’s now the all-time scorer in Olympic
history. Everyone was doubting him if he could play during the
games. A lingering calf injury which forced coach Steve Kerr to
sit Durant out of exhibition. The media questioned this roster
and Kerr as each game became more tense. Durant is a guy
who can wake up and drop buckets.
As we witnessed, each jumper was smooth like silk. Durant’s
shot making capabilities still have a scary movie feel. Once it
leaves his hands, nothing but net. He is still one of the greatest
skilled basketball players on planet Earth.
For this team, they’ll go down as the greatest team ever
assembled. You can argue, debate about the 92 Dream Team
being better, but look at the competition of then versus now. If
MJ and company had faced the likes of today’s players, would
we view it differently? With guys like Wemby, Jokic, Giannis,
Luka, even Team Canada was stacked. 92 team would be in very close games if not blown off the court.
That’s not taking away greatness, but the skillsets vastly improved.
This version of Team USA basketball needed each other to win
gold. James being the most valuable, Curry was more
important. His twelve points in the gold medal game will go
down in Olympic galore as fans witnessed his greatness.
He channeled the inner “Mamba” and took over against
France. Icing the game with a three over two France defenders,
priceless. As he celebrated his signature “night-night” gesture
with LeBron, it was truly a beautiful sight.
For three twilight superstars who competed against each other
and finally all of them on the court for gold, it was a long time
in the making. They gave us hope in winning gold; despite what
the national sports media said. Blocking out the noise and
following James’ lead.
Enjoy family time and leaving with gold was the assignment.
The bias MJ fans were nowhere to be found after the gold
medal game; yet still took time to remind us “MJ would never”
be in a close game during Olympic play.
In the end, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry all
aligned and gave basketball fans a summer to remember. If this
was their last run in Olympic basketball, we’ll forever be
thankful for the “Twilight Squad.”
