USA Basketball Defeats Spain For the Gold Medal
By Tim Ryan
LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and 87 other NBA All-Stars were surprisingly too much for Pau Gasol, his brother, and the incomparable Rudy Fernandez.
Fittingly, somehow, it was LeBron’s late 3-pointer that sent Spain to silver, which just a few months ago would feel completely odd to say for those who enjoy lazy narratives. He finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, and joins Michael Jordan as the only player to win the NBA regular-season MVP, NBA Finals MVP, NBA championship and Olympic gold in the same year. That’s a mouthful.
I have to say, between Coach K’s animated behavior — particularly the jumping — and the universal joy seen among the faces of the players on the USA sideline, it was a pleasure to watch.
The aforementioned Gasol, who in a couple months will be part of a filthy starting lineup, scored 24 points in defeat.
Previously: USA Basketball vs. Spain For the Olympic Gold Medal
Previously: Dwight Howard Makes the Lakers the Team to Beat in the NBA, Yes, Better Than the Heat and Thunder