Tag: Team USA

Team USA’s Kevin Durant posts subtle message to Nets’ Dennis Schroder

After Brooklyn Nets guard Dennis Schroder gave his thoughts on European basketball, Team USA’s Kevin Durant dropped a subtle response.

Brooklyn Nets guard Dennis Schroder did his best to lead Germany to the possibility of winning their second gold medal in as many years after the 2023 FIBA World Cup last summer. While Schroder and company were unable to win a medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, he shed some light on different between European basketball and American basketball, a distinction that one of the best players in the world didn’t appreciate.

Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant, who recently was one of the best players leading Team USA to the nation’s fifth consecutive gold medal, appeared to slight the distinction that Schroder when discussing the different styles of basketball. For context, Schroder said that European basketball is “no entertainment” and is “straight IQ basketball” when talking to the media about the differences.

After Team USA won their gold medals after beating France on Saturday in the gold medal game, Durant posted a picture on X of all of the players showcasing their medals along with the caption “ENTERTAINMENT & IQ” on it. Given that Schroder is a pretty good NBA player in his own right, it makes sense that Durant would have picked up what Schroder had to say about something that separates different versions of the sport.

To be clear, Schroder did acknowledge that the NBA is the best league in the world so it doesn’t sound like his words were meant to slight the league that he plays in. As has been said before, the rest of the world has been catching up to the United States in recent years and there are plenty of ballers around the world, including those who don’t play in the NBA.

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Olympic ranking: The National Teams with the best point differential in tournament history

HoopsHype looks at the national basketball teams with the highest point differentials in Olympic Games history, including the Dream Team and the 2024 team.

With the 2024 Olympic Games from Paris officially wrapped up, we decided to review history and examine the National Teams with the highest point differentials in Olympic basketball history.

Somewhat noteworthy: The 2024 USA Basketball team – despite being as loaded as it was with LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant – had merely the 21st-best point differential in history, which speaks to how far the rest of the world has progressed in basketball. Meanwhile, the Dream Team led by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley ranks second in differential… and No. 1 since NBA players compete in the Olympic tournament.

Below, check out the national basketball teams with the best average point differential in Olympic Games history.

Photos of former Notre Dame women’s basketball players winning gold

Make that two golds each for the two.

The 2024 Olympics in Paris had only one event left in which to give out medals. That was the women’s basketball competition, and the U.S. was a heavy favorite for its eighth straight gold medal. It turned out winning the gold was easier said than done as the U.S. squeaked by France, 67-66, in a game that nearly went into overtime but for a foot on the 3-point line on the final basket.

Though two former Notre Dame standouts were on the U.S. roster, only one played in the final game. That was [autotag]Jackie Young[/autotag], who made a single basket on seven field-goal attempts. [autotag]Jewell Loyd[/autotag] was left on the bench. However, both will leave Paris with their second Olympic gold medals each.

In six Olympic contests, Young averaged 9.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals a game. Over five games, Loyd had averages of 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

Here’s how these two Irish legends enjoyed their latest moment of Olympic glory:

Hoops fans were so moved by Brittney Griner’s tears after Team USA won gold

Brittney Griner deserves every bit of this glorious moment.

Team USA women’s basketball’s chaotic ending to winning another gold medal had so many iconic notes. You had incredibly clutch fourth-quarter heroics from Kahleah Copper. There was, of course, an unfortunate stroke of luck for France’s Gabby Williams, punctuated by ball-knowing confidence from Breanna Stewart.

But the best moment of all might have come from Brittney Griner during the medal ceremony. The Phoenix Mercury center was seen crying during the American national anthem, moved to heartwarming emotions after she received her gold medal.

And if you know anything about what Griner has been through over the last couple of years, you couldn’t help but cry with her.

Roughly two years ago at this time, Griner was being erroneously held in a Russian prison over drug smuggling charges because of a medical marijuana prescription from the United States. She would later finally be released about 10 months later, but not after losing nearly a year of her life while also in the middle of her basketball playing career.

For such a heartbreaking story to follow at the time, it made it beyond rewarding to see Griner get emotional over winning another gold medal for her country.

Hoops fans felt so great for Griner as she cried after remembering everything she’s been through

1 photo shows Breanna Stewart knew Gabby Williams had her foot on the line when trying to tie the gold medal game

Breanna Stewart knew Gabby Williams made a big mistake right away.

In a twist almost no one saw coming, France was this close to upsetting Team USA women’s basketball in the gold medal game on Sunday.

In fact, both teams’ woeful shooting performances opened the door for the French, making the Americans really uncomfortable down the stretch. If not for Kahleah Copper’s heroics, we might have been talking about France’s first gold medal ever instead of a nail-biting 67-66 USA win.

Well, and if Gabby Williams didn’t have her foot on the line when trying to tie the game in the final moments.

But even in the flash of chaos, one person on Team USA knew right away that Williams had fallen just short of forcing overtime. That was Breanna Stewart, who was seen pointing at the line without hesitation in a wonderfully animated photo of the superstar:

That is tremendous confidence right there. Look at Stewart’s face. That’s of an athlete who knows they’re about to add another gold medal to their collection.

Sabrina Ionescu earns first gold medal at 2024 Paris Olympics

Former Oregon Ducks star Sabrina Ionescu won her first gold medal with Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Mother of Ducklings has officially added a gold medal to her trophy case.

Former Oregon Duck star Sabrina Ionescu accomplished one of the most prestigious feats in all of sports on Sunday morning, winning a gold medal with Team USA in a thrilling 67-66 win over France in the championship game.

This was Ionescu’s first gold medal in her Olympic debut, but the eight consecutive gold medal won the the Team USA women’s basketball team.

Ionescu had a somewhat limited role on the team, playing just an average of 13 minutes per game in the tournament. She scored 5.5 points per game, and added 3.3 assists per contest in the gold medal run as well.

The United States now leaves the 2024 Paris Olympics tied with the most gold medals among all countries with 40. China also had 40 gold medals. Meanwhile, Team USA dominated the overall medal count with 126 total, while China had 91.

Regardless of the numbers or the extensiveness of her role, Ionescu is coming back as a gold medalist, which is something she can hold onto forever.

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Steve Kerr calls former Kentucky star Team USA’s ‘unsung MVP’

Former Kentucky guard Devin Booker drew praise from Devin Booker for his performance in Team USA’s gold medal win over France.

Team USA secured a gold medal against France in Paris on Saturday, thanks in large part to a dominant fourth quarter from Steph Curry, who looked like his old self after hitting three three pointers in the closing minutes to put the game to rest and silence the home crowd.

Curry led the USA with 24 points on eight made three pointers, while fellow veterans LeBron James and Kevin Durant each had excellent games as well – giving Team USA’s older superstars an incredible curtain call.

After the game, understandably, most of the conversation was centered around Curry’s late game heroics or the play of James and Durant, but at the end of his postgame press conference head coach Steve Kerr made sure to give a special shoutout to former Kentucky guard Devin Booker for his play on Sunday and throughout the olympics.

“Devin Booker is an incredible basketball player,” Kerr said, per Ben Golliver of the Washington Post. “Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just wanted to say that.”

Booker finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists in 28 minutes, while shooting 6-9 from the field.

His 28 minutes trailed only Curry, James, and Durant – a clear sign the 27-year-old is a critical future piece of Team USA going forward.

Team USA will attempt to defend its gold medal in Los Angeles in 2028, and while Curry, Durant, and LeBron are likely going to be done at that point, expect Booker, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, and others to pick up the mantle and keep USA Basketball thriving for years to come.

Former Husker Ty Lue wins Olympic gold medal

On Saturday, Tyronn Lue won a gold medal as an assistant coach for the United States Men’s national team. 

A former Nebraska men’s basketball player won an Olympic gold medal over the week. On Saturday, Tyronn Lue won a gold medal as an assistant coach for the United States Men’s national team.

Team USA defeated the host team, France, 98-87, to win the tournament. This victory is Team USA’s fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Lue played at Nebraska from 1995 to 1998. He was a two-time All-Big 12 selection, and the Cornhuskers have retired his No. 10.

The Denver Nuggets drafted him with the 23rd pick overall in 1998. The Missouri native would play for the Lakers, Wizards, Magic, Rockets, Hawks, Mavericks, and Bucks during his NBA career, winning two titles with the Lakers (2000 & 2001).

He began his head coaching career during the 2015-16 season, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers win the NBA title. Lue has been the coach of the L.A. Clippers since 2020-21.

In May, he signed a new contract that will run through the 2028-29 season, paying him approximately $14 million per year.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Team USA, Steph Curry secure gold medal with thrilling win vs. France

Steph Curry can add Olympic gold medalist to his resume.

Stephen Curry can now officially add a new line to his already-decorated basketball resume. The Golden State Warriors All-Star guard is an Olympic gold medal winner. Curry didn’t only help Team USA secure the gold medal in a thrilling win over France, the two-time NBA MVP did it in style.

Following a quiet start against France, Curry came alive in signature fashion down the stretch. With the game close in the fourth quarter, Curry drilled a barrage of 3-pointers in the final three minutes, including a miraculous dagger triple over two French defenders.

Curry finished with a team-high 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field with eight made 3-pointers and five assists in 30 minutes. Curry led Team USA with red-hot performances in both the semifinals and Gold Medal Game.

Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and LeBron James all tallied double-figure scoring performances in Team USA’s 98-87 win over France on Saturday in Paris.

Watch highlights from Saturday’s game in Paris via YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0EV_Ci6zlY

Team USA has now won five-straight Olympic gold medals in men’s basketball.

 

Three former Wildcats win basketball gold along with Team USA

Team USA defeated France on Saturday to win the gold in men’s basketball.

After a close call against Serbia in the Olympics semifinal, Team USA got out in front early in the Final against France. They’d stay in front, and win the gold medal by a score of 98 – 87.

Team USA was led in scoring by Steph Curry once again, with 24 points. Devin Booker tied Kevin Durant with 15 points. Booker also had six rebounds and three assists.

Anthony Davis had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting. He also led the team in rebounding with nine, and blocked four shots.

Related: Former Wildcat track star sets new world record

The third former Wildcat, Bam Adebayo, played just nine minutes. He recorded two points and one rebound in the game.

Team USA shot the ball well overall in the gold medal game, especially from three-point range, where they made 18-of-36 shots.

The gold medal is Team USA’s fifth consecutive at the Olympics. As for the former Kentucky stars, Big Blue Nation congratulates them, and enjoyed seeing them perform on a world stage.