NBA stars from around the world gathered at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with one common goal: to win the gold medal.
And thanks to their 98-87 win over France on Saturday at the Bercy Arena, the USA did just that.
However, the Avengers basketball team was founded long before the Olympic Games in Paris.
Speaking to reporters after Team USA’s victory on Saturday, Kevin Durant recounted when he decided to compete in his fourth Olympic Games and who ultimately pushed him to do so.
“I knew it” [while playing for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2022-23] “The season,” said Durant (quoted from Sam Amick von The Athletic„).[Team USA managing director] Grant [Hill] And [coach] Steve [Kerr]”They came to Brooklyn and tried to get me to go to the World Championship, so I knew how important it was for us to be there in 2024 and I kind of committed myself there.”
“Last summer, [LeBron James] He started texting everyone and giving his opinion on who we thought should be on the team [asking] When everyone plays, we start sending them out [kinds of] When I texted, I knew we would all be together and that this was a special time.
For the first time in five years, Durant met former Warriors teammate Steph Curry, who competed in his first Olympic Games this summer.
“I knew Steph was going to play,” Durant said. “He had never been on an Olympic team before. He had won a world championship but wanted to win an Olympic medal. So it was easy, especially when those two guys committed, and once the team was built, I knew it was going to be special.
Curry, who still has the taste of victory, first considered playing for the U.S. national team in 2024, just moments after winning his last championship with the Warriors two years ago.
“When we flew back from Boston in 2022, I made a joke [with Kerr] “That’s the only thing I haven’t done, and I’ve just kept it pretty secret,” Carey explained.[Then] Last September I watched the World Cup and realised I hadn’t done that. I felt healthy and I could do that, so that was something I wanted to do. K said the same thing. Text messages started flying.
Saturday’s victory and the gold medal that came with it were not only the culmination of weeks of hard work and dedication in the offseason, but also the culmination of years of discussion and preparation for what could be the last Olympic appearance for three of the NBA’s most popular players.
Download and follow the Dubs Talk podcast
