Team USA clinched the gold medal in a thrilling victory over France, with Stephen Curry delivering a breathtaking performance in the final minutes. French head coach Vincent Collet had prepared his team well, but even their best efforts couldn’t contain one of the greatest three-point shooters in history. After the game, Collet shared his thoughts on Curry’s game-changing impact, which forced France to settle for silver.
“I would have loved to see how [the U.S.] would have responded if we had regained the lead. But maybe Steph [Curry] would have made those shots just the same way he did tonight,” Collet remarked.
With just 2:48 left in the fourth quarter and Team USA clinging to a three-point lead, Curry took over, sinking four consecutive three-pointers. His final shot, made over two defenders, was the most crucial, effectively sealing the win for the U.S.
Curry’s Olympic performance was nothing short of spectacular. He finished the gold medal game with 24 points, all from beyond the arc. Although Curry had struggled with his shot earlier in the tournament, he came alive when it mattered most, leading Team USA in the final two games.
“I was just trying to calm us down and focus on getting a good shot,” Curry explained after the game. “[Finally] the momentum was on our side. At that point, your mind goes blank—you’re not thinking about the setting or the scenario. It’s just about taking the shot.”
Curry, who has already secured four NBA championships, two MVP awards, and a Finals MVP, was missing only one accolade: an Olympic gold medal. With this victory, Curry added another prestigious accomplishment to his storied career, and he couldn’t hide his excitement.
“I’ve been fortunate to play basketball at a high level for a long time,” Curry said. “This ranks very high in terms of the excitement and the relief of getting to the finish line. There’s a lot of relief. It wasn’t easy, but damn, I’m excited, man. This is everything I wanted it to be and more.”
Throughout his career, Curry has shown that when he’s in the zone, he’s nearly unstoppable. Bringing that same intensity to the Olympic stage was crucial for Team USA. This win might be Curry’s only shot at Olympic gold, as he’s unlikely to play in 2028. For basketball fans, it was a rare and thrilling experience to see Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant—often dubbed the “Big 3” of their generation—compete together on the international stage.
