The USA entered the 2024 Olympics as the favorites to secure gold, and they achieved that goal with a 98-87 victory over France in the gold-medal game.
However, the win wasn’t straightforward. Despite a maximum lead of 14 points, Team USA found itself clinging to a narrow three-point advantage over the host nation with just three minutes remaining. To maintain their gold medal streak, which now extends to five consecutive Olympics, a decisive finish was essential.
Steph Curry ensured that the U.S. closed out the game with a strong performance in his Olympic debut, which might also be his last. Curry scored 12 of the USA’s final 16 points, including his last four three-pointers, finishing the game with a team-high 24 points.
Curry struggled with his three-point shooting in the earlier stages of the tournament, hitting just 5-of-20 in the first four games. However, he turned things around with a combined 17-of-27 from beyond the arc in the crucial victories over Serbia and France. His exceptional shooting performance made him a strong MVP contender, though the award ultimately went to LeBron James.
Despite not winning the MVP, Curry’s performance garnered significant acclaim from the basketball community. Many NBA players took to social media to express their admiration for his clutch performance, with Josh Hart succinctly capturing the sentiment: “Steph went into God Mode,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Steph went into God Mode
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) August 10, 2024
Manu Ginobili, a member of the Argentina team that famously defeated Team USA to win gold at the 2004 Olympics, also praised Curry. His outstanding play ensured that Argentina would remain the most recent non-USA gold medal winner in men’s basketball for at least another four years.
Steph is RIDICULOUS!! 🔥🔥🔥
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) August 10, 2024
NBA stars such as Jalen Brunson, DeMar DeRozan, and Donovan Mitchell were among those who lauded Curry’s spectacular finish.
Steph is ridiculous
— Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) August 10, 2024
Steph 🔥🔥🔥
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 10, 2024
Chef!!!!
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) August 10, 2024
Put’em to bed!!!
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) August 10, 2024
WE WITNESSING GREATNESS! Wow🐐
#30— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 10, 2024
Steph crazy lol
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) August 10, 2024
Steph the best to ever do it🤝🏼
— Brandin Podziemski (@brandinpodziem2) August 10, 2024
His performance also drew praise from athletes across the sports world, including WNBA MVP contender A’ja Wilson, who joined in celebrating Curry’s remarkable contributions in the gold-medal game.
Steph whatttttttt!! Insane !! 😮💨😮💨
— A'ja Wilson (@_ajawilson22) August 10, 2024
That man Steph Curry 😮💨🐐
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 10, 2024
Nah Steph is ridiculous
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) August 10, 2024
Steph curry just left earth……The greatest shooter of all time
— Frances Tiafoe (@FTiafoe) August 10, 2024
