Team USA secured its fifth consecutive gold medal by defeating France 98-87 in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games final, with standout performances from LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Devin Booker was another of the team’s highlights in the first phase group games.
Unlike previous tournaments, the road to gold wasn’t easy for Steve Kerr’s squad. The global basketball landscape has evolved, with more international teams boasting NBA talent. This was evident in the pre-Olympic friendlies when Team USA narrowly edged out South Sudan by just one point.
This year’s Team USA roster was stacked with superstars, a stark contrast to the 2020 Olympics lineup. While Booker was part of that previous team, the addition of heavyweights like James and Curry elevated the squad’s profile to new heights.
Booker reflects on playing with LeBron and Curry
Though Booker already claimed his first Olympic gold in Tokyo, he emphasized how special it was to share the court with James and Curry in Paris. Speaking with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Booker said, “This experience was totally different from the first one. Not taking anything away from that, but the atmosphere, obviously Stephen, LeBron joining us—this experience is right up there with any other in my lifetime.”
Lebron James #6 high fives Devin Booker #15 of Team United States. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Seeing both James and Curry compete on the international stage was a rare spectacle, and Booker clearly recognizes the significance of playing alongside these icons as they led Team USA to victory after victory.
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Each Olympic tournament has its own distinct flavor, but with James, Curry, and Kevin Durant likely making their final appearances for Team USA, this run will be remembered as a truly special chapter in the program’s storied history.
