The men’s basketball semi-finals in the Paris Olympics 2024, between the USA and Serbia, got the heartbeats to go faster. Starting the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead, Serbia was in their prime position to pull off an upset. However, the reigning Olympic champions made a serious comeback, as LeBron James and Stephen Curry eventually led the USA to victory, recording a final score of 95-91. The game not only had some high-level basketball on display but also a dramatic moment involving the American veteran Carmelo Anthony, who had marked his attendance in the crowd. A gesture made towards Anthony caught the global attention.

With only 3:40 of the time remaining, the Hawks guard and Serbian national team member, Bogdan Bogdanovic, scored a 3-pointer that powered Serbia’s lead to 15 points. The 35-year-old celebrated his shoot using Anthony’s iconic ‘three to the dome’ celebration and while doing that, he looked towards Anthony as well, as if it was a message to him. As the game reached its climax, Bogdanovic’s taunting of Anthony added an extra layer of drama. Let’s find out what led Bogdanovic to taunt Anthony in such a crucial match.

The Reason Behind the Taunt

Bogdan Bogdanovic had a significant play last night, as he scored a 3-pointer and gave Serbia an extended lead. The veteran celebrated by taunting Melo with an interesting gesture, a move that seemed both deliberate and provocative. It was probably a personal reply from Bogdanovic, which took eight years in the making. Wondering how? Well, it all started when Bogdanovic and Melo met at the Rio Olympics final in 2016. The game finished in the USA’s favor, as they won it comprehensively by 96-66 and took their third straight gold medal home.

In the finals, during the first possession of the second half, Anthony scored a 3-pointer that enhanced USA’s lead to 55-29. Melo celebrated by banging three fingers on the side of his head, with Bogdanovic present on the court. Eight years later, the Serbian returned the favor with the same celebration, but the only difference was that Melo was in the audience this time and not on the court.

It was a calculated move by the forward, which showed how high on confidence the whole Serbian team was. Despite being considered the underdogs, they matched a star-studded team like the USA shot-for-shot and almost pulled off an upset. The taunt from Bogdanovic was a blend of strategic psychological play and personal motivation, set against one of the most significant teams in international basketball.

What’s your take on Serbia’s performance against the USA in the Olympic semi-final? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.