July 28th 2024.
LeBron James stood on the court in Villeneuve-D'Ascq, France, feeling a mix of nerves, excitement, and maybe a little anxiety. It had been 12 long years since he last played in the Olympics, and the weight of representing his country was heavy on his mind. But as the national anthem played and he looked around at his teammates, all of that nervous energy melted away.
James and Kevin Durant, the two most experienced players on the American team, put on a show in the Paris Games' opening match. Durant was on fire, making his first eight shots and scoring 23 points, while James added 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Together, they led the U.S. to a dominant 110-84 victory over Serbia.
"It was the best game we've played so far," James said with a smile after the game. The Americans were now 6-0 in their summer games and 1-0 in the Olympics, setting the tone for their quest to win a fifth consecutive gold medal.
The duo of James and Durant was unstoppable, shooting a combined 18 for 22 from the field. Their performance was a testament to the American team's depth and firepower, with Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, and Stephen Curry all contributing double-digit points.
"We have a team full of talented players, and we're all willing to do whatever it takes to win," James said. "We know that it's going to be someone different stepping up every day, and that's what makes us so dangerous."
The U.S. had no trouble handling Serbia, the reigning World Cup silver medalists, who were outscored by 27 points from the 3-point line. This had been a concern for the Americans in their warm-up games, but on this day, they showed that they could shoot with the best of them.
The team's dominance was not surprising, as they now improved their overall Olympic record to 144-6 and remained undefeated when scoring over 100 points. "It's great to get the first win under our belts," said Edwards, one of the team's youngest players.
While the Americans celebrated their victory, they knew that there was still a long road ahead. They would face South Sudan next, a team they narrowly beat in an exhibition game earlier this month. Serbia, on the other hand, would have to regroup and face Puerto Rico in a crucial game that could determine their fate in the tournament.
The game itself started with a surprise as Serbia jumped out to an early 10-2 lead, prompting U.S. coach Steve Kerr to call a timeout just two minutes and 41 seconds into the game. But after making some adjustments, the Americans quickly regained their composure, with Durant leading the charge.
Durant's incredible first-half performance, going 8-for-8 from the field, ended with a buzzer-beating fadeaway that had the whole team on their feet. By halftime, the U.S. had a comfortable 58-49 lead.
The second half was more of the same, with James, Curry, and Edwards all making highlight-worthy plays. The U.S. defense also stepped up, shutting down Serbia's intricate offense and allowing the Americans to pull away. "It was important for us to start the tournament strong because every game is crucial," Curry said after his Olympic debut.
In the end, the U.S. proved that they were a force to be reckoned with, and that they were determined to bring home another gold medal. As for coach Kerr, he couldn't help but laugh at the comparison made by Serbia's coach, Svetislav Pesic, who had said this American team was even better than the legendary "Dream Team" from 1992.
"When Chuck Daly coached the Dream Team, he never called a timeout," Kerr joked. But this time, he had to call one just a few minutes into the game. In the end, it didn't matter, as the U.S. cruised to a dominant victory, setting the stage for their journey to the top of the podium.
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