“USA, USA, USA” – LeBron James and the American brigade made their way into the French capital, looking like a painting of the American revolution. Confident. Fierce. Champions. That’s what they came across as. On August 10, Team USA solidified themselves as Olympic champions by defeating the hosts (98-87) during the basketball finals at the Bercy Arena. Also, LeBron James has been named the MVP of the entire tournament after their win.

The G.O.A.T averaged 14.2 points, making 30.8% of his three-pointers and 66% shooting from the field. His average consisted of 8.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 6.8 rebounds per game – surmounting a team-leading 23.5 efficiency. In the semifinals against Serbia, he registered a triple-double, becoming the only player to do so at the Olympics more than once. The first time fans witnessed this was at the 2012 London Summer Games against Australia.

The King now has 3 Olympic medals to his name. However, Kevin Durant racked up 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 13.8 points throughout the entire competition. Moreover, since Team USA has had yet another successful campaign at the Olympics KD is now the first men’s basketball player to have 4 Olympic gold medals to his name! Pop Base shared his insane accomplishment on X. He is now the most decorated Team USA men’s basketball player in history!

On August 7, Team USA locked horns with Brazil for the quarterfinals. In the final 38 minutes and 40 seconds, they dominated the court and headed into the semi-finals, winning 122-87. However, Kevin Durant had more to celebrate. The 35-year-old set the Team USA all-time Olympic scoring record surpassing Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie. As soon as this was announced at the Bercy Arena, the stands erupted in a thunderous roar – cheering for the athlete.

When asked how he felt about this, “Records are meant to be broken, so somebody will come along and do the same. We’re just focused on trying to win this gold.” What makes this feat even better though? Leading up to the Paris Olympics the basketball player had to sit out of a lot of events. He also missed a series of 5 exhibition matches and the entire USA Basketball Showcase. Even a left calf strain he sustained back in April couldn’t keep him away from etching his name in history.

Even though LeBron James was named the MVP this time around, Kevin Durant has had a prominent presence at the Summer Games throughout the years. Team USA missed out on a medal at the 2004 Games in Athens. But the “Redeem Team,” clinched their first out of 5 gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, Durant wasn’t a part of this squad. His first gold medal was at the 2012 London Olympics, returning after both in 2016 and the postponed 2021 Tokyo Olympics. This marked his 4th Olympic berth. Will he be back for LA28? “We’ll see,” he told ESPN.

Meet the most valuable player: LeBron “King” James

Along with an impressive run at the French capital, LeBron James walked away with the Most Valuable Player award. Despite captivating audiences throughout, during a game against Brazil, Geroginho de Paula accidentally elbowed him in the eye. After grimacing in pain, he stepped out of the court to get 4 stitches around his eye. However, undeterred, he exclaimed, “I’m fine, I’ll play in the next game. I got elbowed in the face. It was an unintentional hit.” But how did he achieve the status of being the G.O.A.T?

On February 7, the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against Oklahoma City Thunder. With his 36th point during the game, King James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Amidst a raucous cheer in a packed stadium, the thunderous cheers refused to die down every time his hand touched the ball. He had garnered more than 38,390 career points, crowning himself as the King of the court.

When asked if James believes the title belongs to him, “I don’t know, man. For me I think it’s great barbershop talk.” However, he went on to enthrall stands at the Bercy Arena. His best game was the group-stage match against Serbia. The 39-year-old scored 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting. Despite his impressive numbers this time around, his points during the 2008 Beijing Olympics are the only ones that surpass it. This marks his third gold medal in 4 Olympic appearances. What did you think of Team USA’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics? Let us know in the comments!