Yes, you can't call the meeting that got to conclude the men's OS basketball in Paris anything else. The French home favorites against USA's new "Dream Team" was a wet dream for the final audience that had seated themselves in Bercy Arena.
In a replay of the OS final in Tokyo three years ago, USA was hunting for their fifth consecutive gold, while France hoped for their first gold after three previous silvers.
Started with a dunk
The legend LeBron James – the oldest on the court at 39 years old – chose the day to honorably step out onto the court in a pair of gold shoes. Then he started by dunking in the match's first points.
France's new superstar Victor Wembanyama, the 20-year-old who wasn't even born when LeBron James made his NBA debut, countered directly by hitting a French three-pointer.
And so the final party was underway for real.
USA ran away to a 14-point lead at most in the beginning of the third quarter. Just then, not much spoke in favor of France being able to create any greater final drama.
France did creep closer, but when LeBron James dunked in 82–72 with just over five minutes left, it was probably clear?
No, not really.
"Dream Team" wobbled, star guard Stephen Curry messed up, and when the giant Wembanyama – the match's top scorer with 26 – tapped in a two-pointer, only three points separated them.
And three minutes remained.
Curry's display
But just like in the semifinal against Serbia, when USA was under great pressure late in the match, this star-studded gang showed their incredible class when it really mattered.
This applies not least to Stephen Curry.
The magnificent 36-year-old, who is participating in his first OS, finished by sinking four three-pointers in the match's last three minutes.
Total, Curry shot eight, 24 points, and ran wildly around in circles and celebrated when the gold was secured. His three-pointer cavalcade became a worthy final point on the basketball show that USA has offered in the OS.
