Kevin Durant and LeBron James Lead the Charge
It didn’t take long for Kevin Durant to demonstrate his readiness for the USA Basketball Men’s National Team. In their 2024 Paris Olympics opener against Serbia, Durant came off the bench and hit a 3-pointer just 14 seconds after being inserted into the game. This was just the beginning of a stellar performance from the three-time gold medalist, who finished the first half with a perfect 8-for-8 shooting and 21 points. Durant’s spark off the bench propelled the four-time defending gold medalist U.S. team to a dominant 110-84 victory over Serbia in Group C at Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France.
“It felt good to make some shots,” said Durant, the career leading scorer in U.S. Olympic history. “Everybody played their role pretty well tonight. My role was to come in, provide patience and shot-making for the team, go out and knock ‘em down.”
LeBron James’ Near Triple-Double
LeBron James, returning to the Olympics after a 12-year absence, nearly recorded his second Olympic triple-double with 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. His performance was a testament to his enduring skill and leadership on the court.
“That’s the best game we played so far,” James commented. “I thought they tested us early. We kind of lost our composure. The second group came in and gave us a big lift. K.D. was phenomenal. It was almost like he never missed a beat or a practice or anything.”
Durant echoed the sentiment, praising James’ impact on both ends of the floor. “He puts fear in other teams and I think that goes a long way, the psyche of the game,” Durant said. “Running downhill, making the right plays on the offensive and defensive ends. He was just insane tonight. I’m glad he’s on our team.”
Game Highlights and Key Plays
The game started with Serbia jumping out to a 10-2 lead, prompting U.S. Coach Steve Kerr to call an early timeout. After a quick substitution of Joel Embiid for Anthony Davis, the U.S. team began to regain control. Stephen Curry slowed Serbia’s momentum with his first Olympic points—a 3-pointer. Devin Booker followed with back-to-back treys, and James went coast-to-coast for a layup, completing a three-point play to give the U.S. its first lead at 14-12.
Serbia responded with an 8-0 run before Durant checked in with 2 minutes, 33 seconds left in the first quarter. Just 14 seconds later, he hit his first 3-pointer, followed by another long-distance shot from Anthony Edwards. Edwards closed the quarter with a lob from James, giving the U.S. a 25-20 advantage.
Durant continued his perfect shooting in the second quarter. He helped the U.S. maintain their lead. A pivotal moment came when Durant hit a turnaround jumper to make it 46-44, followed by a steal and layup from Jrue Holiday to extend the lead to 50-44. Durant closed the half with an arcing, turnaround fadeaway, putting the U.S. up 58-49 at halftime. James was also perfect in the first half, hitting all five of his shots for 12 points.
“Maybe more than any player I’ve been around, when he comes back from a long absence, you don’t notice it,” said Kerr, who coached Durant with the Golden State Warriors. “He’s so skilled. He looked like he was in midseason form after not playing in a real basketball game for a couple of months. Pretty incredible.”
Strong Team Effort and Defensive Prowess
In addition to Durant and James, Jrue Holiday quietly added 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Devin Booker contributed 12 points and five assists while Stephen Curry and Anthony Edwards each added 11 points. The USA’s balanced offense and defense were key to their victory. They held Serbia to 37.8% shooting from the field and just 26.3% from beyond the arc.
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic led Serbia with 20 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. However, Serbia struggled to keep up with the U.S. team’s relentless pace and defensive pressure.
The Next Match: South Sudan
The top-ranked USA has won 31 of its last 32 Olympic games. They will next face 33rd-ranked South Sudan on Wednesday at 3 a.m. GMT+8. Surprisingly, South Sudan provided one of the toughest tests for the Americans in the USA Basketball Showcase, narrowly losing 101-100 in London. South Sudan, making their historic Olympic debut, won their first game 90-79 against Puerto Rico.
Team USA Men’s 5×5 Olympic Games Schedule 2024
| Date | Match | Location | Time (GMT+8) |
| August 01 | USA vs. South Sudan | Lille, France | 3:00 am |
| August 03 | USA vs. Puerto Rico | Lille, France | 11:15 pm |
USA Narrowly Escapes South Sudan’s Challenge in London Showdown
Anticipation for the 2024 Paris Olympic Men’s Basketball
As team USA heads deeper into the Olympic tournament, the anticipation continue to build. Lebron James, at 39 years and 6 months, became the oldest men’s Olympic player in USA Basketball history. He surpassed Larry Bird’s record from the 1992 Barcelona Games. The experience and leadership of veterans like James and Durant will be crucial as the team strives for a fifth consecutive gold medal.
Stephen Curry makes his Olympic debut at 36. He and other key players like Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, and Anthony Edwards, will play vital roles in the team’s success. The upcoming game against South Sudan will be another important test as Team USA aims to maintain their winning momentum and further solidify their place in Paris.
With their pre-olympics showcase behind and a strong start to the Paris Olympics, Team USA’s game in Paris promises to be an exciting test of skill, strategy, and determination.
The Associated Press
