Since basketball arrived at the Olympics, the United States has faced several important opponents in the final. There was the USSR in the 1950s and 1960s, until the legendary moment of 1972, then Yugoslavia in the 1970s and 1980s, before Spain in 2008 and 2012. Now, it's France!
Because for the second time in a row and the third time in 24 years, Team USA will cross paths with Les Bleus to win the gold medal. It is even the fourth final in history between the two nations, after those of 1948, 2000 and 2021.
A look back at these three matches, before the final this Saturday evening.
1948 in London: a world apart
It was a different time. The NBA had just been born and it was only the second appearance of basketball at the Olympic Games after Berlin in 1936 – the Second World War having cancelled the 1940 and 1944 editions. The Americans logically retained their title, won against Canada twelve years earlier, by a wide score of 65-21!
It was Alex Groza, future player of the Indianapolis Olympians in the NBA, who finished as the best scorer of the match with 11 points.
2000 in Sydney: four minutes to dream
52 years after this 1948 final, France meets Team USA in Sydney, after having (already) eliminated Canada in the quarter-finals and then Australia, even though they were at home. The Blues meet the Americans again during this competition, after a defeat in the first round marked by Vince Carter's “dunk of death”.
Jean-Pierre de Vincenzi's men are not facing a perfect team since Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson are not there. Nevertheless, there are still Vince Carter, Gary Payton, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Jason Kidd.
Dominated in the first half, the French will come back in the second, notably with a great Laurent Sciarra (top scorer of the match with 19 points). So much so that with four minutes to go in the game, after a three-point basket by Antoine Rigaudeau, Team USA only has a four-point lead. The feat is possible. Rudy Tomjanovich takes a time-out.
The rest is told by Antoine Rigaudeau: “The last few minutes, physically, we struggled. They stepped it up a notch and we weren't able to respond to that. We needed to be physically stronger.” The United States thus remain Olympic champions but with a gap of only ten points (85-75). A final success before a dark period for them, with the 2002 World Cup missed at home and then the bronze in Athens in 2004.
2021 in Tokyo: so close, so far
“Twenty years” after (Covid having postponed these Games by a year) the Sydney adventure, France is reaching a third Olympic final after having eliminated Italy and Slovenia. Here we go again: it's still Team USA in front. It's clearly not the best possible team, but with an enormous Kevin Durant, it's still necessary to achieve a feat to win this long-awaited gold medal.
The Blues are quickly caught by the American defense and by the pressure of this match, by chaining the lost balls. They have little space for good shots and some forgetfulness in defense, plus the talent of Kevin Durant and the others, make the difference until the third quarter. Team USA then signs a 15-8 after a series of wasted possessions.
But Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier and company hang on in defense and also with a three-point basket from the back at the end of the game. So much so that, with 10 seconds left, there is only a three-point difference.
Kevin Durant, still imperial in the final, did not tremble and Team USA won 87-82. The Blues certainly lost by only five points, but it was hard to believe it during this game, played in the early morning, French time. The Americans never really trembled, and France seemed so close in the score, but so far in the game…
