Team USA Basketball

While the United States men's basketball team won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Jayson Tatum's playing time was a running storyline.

And the Boston Celtics star added another angle to it Sunday.

Tatum reposted a message from musician Vince Staples on his Instagram story that said "We will avenge Jayson Tatum."

Jayson Tatum posted this on his Instagram story 👀 🍿 pic.twitter.com/IVxs9M3KJF

— Ben Grunert (@BenGrunertBball) August 12, 2024

The Duke product didn't play at all in two of the Americans' six games, including the semifinal win over Serbia. He also played just 11 minutes in the gold-medal game win over France and finished with two points on 1-of-3 shooting from the field.

There was some context to the situation, as he was consistently behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the rotation. Head coach Steve Kerr also played matchups at times, including when he sat Joel Embiid against South Sudan and Derrick White in the gold-medal game.

Still, Tatum is fresh off leading the Celtics to the championship and was a member of the All-NBA First Team during each of the last three seasons. Seeing him relegated to a secondary role was rather surprising at times.

For his part, he said he won't rule out playing in the 2028 Olympics despite his experience at the 2024 Games.

"It was a tough personal experience on the court, but I'm not going to make any decision off emotions," Tatum said, per ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "If you asked me right now if I was going to play in 2028 -- it is four years from now and I [would have] to take time and think about that. So I'm not going to make any decision based off how this experience was or how I felt individually."

Perhaps he will play a larger role in those Olympics in Los Angeles, but he at least got a gold medal from Paris.

It was an iconic first Olympics for Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry.

The point guard helped lead Team USA to gold behind two legendary performances. He dropped 36 points against Serbia in the semifinal before hitting eight three-pointers on his way to 24 points against France in the gold-medal game.

In the final three minutes of Saturday's gold-medal game, Curry hit four threes consecutively without a miss to help put the game away.

After the legendary showing in Paris, Curry dropped some of iconic photos on social media. He posted the following on X on Sunday:

Y’all gone get this Gold Medal Content! #nuitnuit pic.twitter.com/ySHjBWh8Ki

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) August 11, 2024

He also posted photos of Team USA's men's and women's gold-medal winning teams with the caption, "Any questions?"

…..Any questions??? #usabasketball 🥇 🥇 pic.twitter.com/QFaSohfjuV

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) August 11, 2024

Along with his posts on X, Curry posted a handful of photos on his Instagram.

He dropped this picture of him and his rival-turned-teammate LeBron James hugging:

Greatness personified.

📸 Michael Reeves, Gregory Shamus pic.twitter.com/Po2HOmXuzp

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 10, 2024

He also dropped this iconic image of him hitting his signature pose in front of Team USA legend Carmelo Anthony:

Carmelo Anthony’s reaction to Steph Curry dropping the “Night Night” celebration was all of us yesterday. 😅🇺🇸

[via IG// @StephenCurry30] pic.twitter.com/4mbnfelh6W

— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BASKETBALLonX) August 11, 2024

Another one of the pictures he posted just doesn't look real. Curry somehow hit a shot of French star Victor Wembanyama:

STEPH OVER WEMBY 😱

What a photo 🤩

📸: Ezra Shaw pic.twitter.com/ARLhANaYNI

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 10, 2024

James, who won his third gold-medal on Saturday, showed Curry some love in the comment section of his post.

LeBron comments on Steph’s IG post 😂🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ElyBAC6CAG

— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) August 11, 2024

With the Olympics now over, Curry will have to go back to competing against stars like James, Kevin Durant and others rather than playing alongside them, but it's clear he enjoyed his time in Paris.

Kahleah Copper was huge for the Team USA women's basketball team during Sunday's 67-66 win, scoring 12 points off the bench while adding five rebounds and two steals.

It was an incredible eighth straight gold medal for the women's basketball team, though this one couldn't have been closer after France's Gabby Williams hit a shot at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime had her feet not been on the line.

Close or not, the Americans are gold medalists yet again, and Copper wants that added to her title:

MF Olympic gold medalist. Address me as such.

— Kahleah Copper (@kahleahcopper) August 11, 2024

Copper didn't always play a huge role for the United States during the Paris Games, but she was ready to make an impact on Sunday.

"Great players show up whenever their name is called," she told reporters. "I think the story of my career is just me staying ready, the preparation meeting, the opportunity and then just taking off from there. I think I just, I'm that player whenever my name is called, I'm going to go out there and give it all I had."

Both Copper and Kelsey Plum (12 points, four assists) provided a huge boost off the bench, while A'ja Wilson (21 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks) continued her dominance in the win, ultimately winning the tournament MVP. She was the best player in Paris and it wasn't particularly close.

But Copper made her impact felt, too, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Breanna Stewart took the sentimental route to celebrate her gold medal in women's basketball.

The U.S. star posted a now-vs-then photo on Instagram with teammate A'ja Wilson that showed the two of them sporting gold medals for Team USA during a youth international tournament.

Stewie & A’ja have been true to this, not new to this 🥇🙌

(via @breannastewart) pic.twitter.com/zwHes6nkLf

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 11, 2024

The U.S. defeated France 67-66 to earn the medal. It was the program's eighth consecutive gold medal.

This was Stewart's third Olympic gold medal and Wilson's second.

Stewart had eight points, three rebounds and an assist in the title game. Wilson had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. Stewart averaged 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists across the Olympic slate while Wilson averaged 18.7 10.2 and 1.8.

The U.S. women have won nine overall Olympic golds and have not lost a game at the Olympics since 1992. Sunday's victory was the squad's 61st consecutive victory.

There's no question Kevin Durant is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Team USA uniform, and his historic fourth Olympic gold medal he earned on Saturday might have just separated him from the rest of the greats.

Per Andscape's Marc J. Spears, Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo thinks Durant is now in a league of his own.

"He has put the stamp on being the greatest Olympian," USA Basketball forward Bam Adebayo said. "He has imprinted his name at the top."

Duran't co-star on Team USA, LeBron James had a similar sentiment about Durant, who he spent most of his career competing with.

"KD is one of the all-time greats," James said. "If you look at his silhouette, look at his skill, he is one of the best players we have ever seen play the game of basketball. No matter your opinion about him or whether you like him, if you really just look at basketball and say basketball player talent, he is out of this world."

Durant's gold medal on Saturday made him the first four-time gold medalists in men's basketball. He also leads Team USA is all-time points, field goals, free throws and three-pointers made. He's put up 518 career points across four Olympics and the closest all-time scorer to home is LeBron James, who has 358.

Durant had 15 points, four rebounds and four assists in the United States' gold-medal matchup against France on Saturday.

He has played in all but one Olympics that he was eligible for, winning a gold medal in each, starting in 2012. Even when many stars opted not to participate in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Durant was there leading the team to gold.

It's unclear whether he will play in the Olympics again. In 2028, Durant will be 39 years old and gearing up to enter his 21st NBA season. It would be a big ask for him to participate in his fifth Olympics, but he didn't shut the door on the idea when asked after Saturday's final.

"Who knows, man. We'll see," Durant said, per the Associated Press' Tim Reynolds.

Even if 2024 was his last time playing for Team USA, Durant has submitted himself as one of the best to ever do it.

Many wondered why Team USA point guard Tyrese Haliburton spent most of his time at the Paris Olympics riding the bench, and it turns out he was a little banged up.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that Haliburton suffered "a minor leg injury" during the Olympics that kept him off the floor.

"Team USA didn't announce it, but he had an MRI, sources said," Windhorst stated.

Haliburton didn't play in Team USA's semifinal game against Serbia or Saturday's gold-medal matchup against France. He saw action in three out of the six games in the Olympic tournament and totaled eight points and two assists in just over 26 minutes on the floor.

Despite the lack of playing time, Haliburton didn't let that ruin the experience of his first Olympics. After Team USA defeated France 98-87 to win the gold medal, he even poked fun at himself on social media:

When you ain’t do nun on the group project and still get an A🏅 pic.twitter.com/xpshYZhMyA

— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) August 10, 2024

It would have been difficult for Haliburton to see time on the floor even if he were healthy, as the Team USA roster was crowded with stars and needed some players to sacrifice for the greater good. Jayson Tatum, who was thought to be an important piece after leading the Boston Celtics to the 2024 NBA championship, struggled to earn playing time and had multiple DNPs that surprised many.

Haliburton's quiet showing in Paris won't affect his standing with USA Basketball going forward. Windhorst stated that the 24-year-old was simply "caught in a numbers game," and he "still has a future with the program." It can be expected that he will have a bigger role with the team at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

A flurry of three-pointers by star point guard Stephen Curry helped put the game away for Team USA in Saturday's gold-medal matchup against France at the Paris Olympics, and he called for a specific play down the stretch that played a part in securing the victory.

Per Ben Golliver of the Washington Post, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr said after Saturday's 98-87 win that Curry requested during a timeout to run a pick-and-roll with star forward LeBron James that helped set up one of his dagger triples.

STEPH WAS ICE COLD DOWN THE STRETCH. 🥶

Four three-pointers in TWO MINUTES AND 11 SECONDS to close out France for the gold medal. 🥇 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/2dR7UUE0Hn

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 10, 2024

Curry finished with a team-high 24 points in Saturday's win, all of which came from his eight three-pointers. He totaled 17 threes between the semifinal against Serbia and the final against France.

The 36-year-old relished the opportunity to play alongside James in an extended setting for the first time, so it's only right that the two of them take part in one of the winning plays that earned Team USA its fifth straight gold medal. James was named MVP of the Olympic tournament.

As Curry and James approach the twilight of their respective legendary careers, perhaps they will have the itch to share the floor with one another again before they hang it up and we'll get to see them connect for more winning plays.

Stephen Curry further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players to ever walk the earth on Saturday, hitting eight three-pointers in the United States 98-87 win over France to clinch a fifth straight gold medal.

"He's the best shooter to ever live," Devin Booker told reporters after Curry's legendary performance.

"THE GOLDEN DAGGER!"

Steph Curry that is utterly ridiculous. 🤯#ParisOlympics | 📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/8hIN8tgmfK

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 10, 2024

That isn't really debatable at this point. The four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP is the all-time leader in made three-pointers (3,747) and three-point attempts (8,805), all while shooting them at a 42.6 percent clip.

He is the only player in NBA history to hit more than 400 threes in a season (402 in the 2015-16 campaign) and has five seasons with 300 or more made threes. Only two other players in NBA history, James Harden and Klay Thompson, have a single season exceeding 300 made threes.

So when he made four shots from beyond the arc late in the fourth quarter against France, his teammates were amazed... but not exactly surprised.

"I was able to witness greatness. ... Watching Steph? Hey, I was just telling him, 'Boy, you crazy, bro,'" Anthony Edwards told reporters after the game. "Shorty went crazy. I ain't got nothing to say about it. He is who he is, you feel me?"

LeBron James is feeling appreciative of receiving Olympic MVP honors.

The 39-year-old won his third career gold medal on Saturday when Team USA defeated France 98-87 in the championship game. In addition to the medal, he was voted the MVP of the tournament and said that he was "super-humbled" to receive the honor.

"It's an honor. I don't know who the voting committee, or whatever the case may be, but super-humbled that they even voted for me," James said, per Marc J. Spears of Andscape. "But it came with us winning gold and that's what's more important for me. It's pretty cool."

James won the award over teammate Steph Curry, France's Victor Wembanyama and Serbia's Nikola Jokić. This was his first time winning the MVP and he is the third person to ever win the award.

James averaged 14.2 points, 8.5 assists and 6.8 rebounds across the Olympic slate. He scored 14 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in the gold medal game.

This could have been James' last Olympics, as he said he "can't see myself playing in Los Angeles" for the 2028 Olympics, per Spears. If so, he would end his Olympic career with three gold medals, a bronze and a tournament MVP award.

One day after winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, LeBron James and others from the men's team were back at the court in a different capacity.

James, Bam Adebayo and Derrick White were in the stands for the U.S. women's team's gold medal match against France. The U.S. would win 67-66 and the men's players were quick to congratulate the victors.

Gold recognize gold. 😎🤝

USA women's basketball players dapped up the men's stars in attendance after their win.#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/b5oxMbeSQe

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024

This was the eighth consecutive gold medal won by the women's Olympic team.

The U.S. were led by A'ja Wilson, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds. Kelsey Plum had 12 points and four assists and Kahleah Copper had 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

This was the 61st consecutive Olympic win for the U.S, a streak that dates back to 1992. It was Wilson's first Olympic gold and third overall gold in International play.

The men's team also took down France in the gold medal game, winning 98-87 on Saturday. The team's have both won gold in every Olympics since 2008.