The USA aims for a five-peat, while France is still looking to win its first Olympic gold medal in men's basketball. It's all going down in this Tokyo 2020 finals rematch.
Team USA and France meet in Olympic basketball’s biggest stage for the second straight time.
Three years since figuring in the finals in Tokyo, the two proud nations square off anew, this time in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s basketball finale in the French capital.
The match is set at 3:30 a.m. on August 11 (PH time) at the Bercy Arena.
LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant lead the American squad dubbed as “The Avengers”, who are looking to add to the country’s collection of gold medals in the quadrennial showpiece.
Team USA currently holds 16 Olympic titles in men’s basketball, including four straight since the Redeem Team in 2008 with the late great Kobe Bryant.
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But while the star-studded Team USA is the overwhelming favorites heading into the clash against Victor Wembanyama and company, recent history suggests it’s not going to be easy.
In their last four meetings in major international tiffs, France emerged victorious twice including the 89-79 win in the 2019 World Cup quarterfinals.
France repeated over USA in the group stages in Tokyo two years later, but Durant took over for the Americans and went home with the gold.
In those matches, though, France did not have the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Wembanyma and Team USA went to battle without James and Curry.
While France had a twin tower in Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, it is expected to experience troubles as Team USA thrives in transition with 17.4 fastbreak points per game.
Before Team USA’s big three went nuts in the fourth period, Serbia successfully disrupted their transition game. Curry, James, and Durant then happened and the Americans completed a sensational come-from-behind win to set up the gold medal match against France.
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Now whether or not Team USA can do the same and pull off another win for a 17th gold medal in Olympic basketball, or France can win its first remains a mystery until the dust settles on Sunday.