Remember the Paris Olympics semi-final? The Team USA roster barely survived the matchup against Serbia during the 2024  Olympics. Therefore, going into the Finals against France, the usual strategies had to be replaced with something innovative. For months, NBA fans would have wanted to know more about what transpired during that game back in August 2024. But what allowed Stephen Curry and co to break the defense to allow a continuous streak of 3-pointers? Well, now we know.

Netflix took the basketball community back to the Paris Olympics through its recent 6-episode series: ‘Court of Gold’. As expected, the final episode covered the pivotal Team USA vs France matchup. A behind-the-scenes retelling of the events and on-court footage revealed what transpired during the final quarter. Team USA’s head coach Steve Kerr revealed deploying the ‘ear-tug’, a cleared side pick-and-roll with Stephen Curry and LeBron James. As Kerr recalled, “Steph just basically said ‘Give me the ball, and I know where I want it. They can’t guard that.'”

Once the instructions were relayed to LeBron James and Kevin Durant, the strategy’s implementation allowed for a burst of scoring to be secured by Team USA. Stephen Curry himself made 4 three-pointers during the final 2:47 minutes. Insane! The ‘ear-tug’ play allowed the NBA three-point leader to begin his streak through a pull-up jump shot first, then a step-back jump shot that extended USA’s lead to nine points. Now, 35 seconds remained on the clock! It is again a step back three. Curry reportedly drew in the French defenders and shot a fadeaway dagger that reduced any hope of a French win.

The moment was cemented in the history books as Stephen Curry pulled out his iconic ‘Night-Night’ move after shooting the dagger. Furthermore, the 36-year-old making one of the shots while being guarded by the 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama was nothing short of astonishing! By the time the game concluded, Curry had made 7 three-pointers, the most by any men’s basketball player in a gold medal game at the Olympics. But what did he say on it?

“LeBron had the ball, and I wanted him to get downhill. When I set the screen and came off, he threw that behind-the-back pass, and the ball was in my hands before I could think about what was happening” said Curry. The Warriors star revealed doing a little “calm-down celebration” after his first 2 three-pointers during the final quarter. After all, “I was really kind of talking to myself, because… you understand these four minutes will define our Team USA Olympic legacies.”

Fortunately, by ending the game with a 97-87 score, Curry and Co established a legacy on par with the 1992 Dream Team and the 2008 Redeem Team. At the same time, it caused Victor Wembanyama and the host team to only walk away with the Silver Medal. The French star’s performance had received praise from Stephen Curry, who said “He took it seriously. He was playing hard”. At the end of the day, however, the better player prevailed.

Curry prevailed in such a manner that a group of NBA legends compared his performance to another star who left an important mark in the Olympics.

Gilbert Arenas compared Stephen Curry’s clutch shots to that of Michael Jordan

Stephen Curry’s clutch performance during the USA-France game is fresh even now. The same was especially a major point of discussion for 3x NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, and his ‘Gil’s Arena’ crew. “I think it’s how Steph got the Gold is more important than just the medal itself. He showed on the highest level that he’s clutch”. For Arenas, Curry’s clutch shots in itself were not like any regular ones. He compared them to Michael Jordan’s ‘The Shot’ from the 1989 NBA playoffs.

That, and the push-off bucket over Bryon Russell during the 1998 Finals. Both moments have become an important part of His Airness’s legacy, with the one shot over Craig Ehlo in Game 5 being ever iconic. Therefore, even modern NBA viewers could relate to the comparison.

“Those two shots for Jordan that’s going to be this one for Steph,” said Arenas. His co-host Brandon Jennings added to the praise by stating “Definitely his biggest moment. I think the biggest moment of his career. I mean, the world is watching.”

An Olympic Gold Medal was all that was remaining from Stephen Curry’s list of accolades. He eventually earned it, and did it by pushing his team to the finish line. Just like Jordan, Stephen Curry’s performance was one of a kind. Something we may not see in many more years to come.