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Kevin Durant celebrated his new proposed NBA $198 million most contract extension by touchdown his third straight Olympic gold medal as Group USA had been topped champions.
The Brooklyn Nets star, 32, captained USA to their sixteenth basketball gold, making certain America continued to face tall within the sport, scoring 29 factors.
Durant was overjoyed and ran across the court docket with the celebrities and stripes draped over his shoulders
Victory was all of the extra sweeter for the US who, of their preliminary group recreation in Japan, had been crushed 83-76 by the French, the European’s first ever victory in opposition to America and the US’s first defeat in 30 matches.
Kevin Durant of the USA celebrates after profitable the gold medal match in opposition to France sporting the Stars & Stripes
United States’ Kevin Durant (7) drives round France’s Rudy Gobert (27) throughout males’s basketball gold medal recreation on the 2020 Summer season Olympics on Saturday
United States’ gamers rejoice after their win within the males’s basketball gold medal recreation in opposition to France
Group United States celebrates following their victory over France within the Males’s Basketball Finals
USA’s Edrice Femi Adebayo celebrates with the flag of the USA their victory within the males’s remaining basketball match
France’s Nando de Colo (12) reacts throughout males’s basketball gold medal recreation in opposition to the USA on the Olympics
United States’ Kevin Durant (7) celebrates after their win within the males’s basketball gold medal recreation
Kevin Wayne Durant carries nationwide flag whereas celebrating his workforce’s win within the males’s remaining basketball match between France and USA
Kevin Durant led Group USA’s victory over France within the males’s basketball remaining in Tokyo on Saturday, avenging a first-round loss and claiming a sixteenth gold for the nation within the sport
The French proved robust opponents as they struck an early lead however because the groups went into the ultimate quarter, the US had turned issues spherical and led 71-63.
The US success meant France had been the runners-up for the third time and on every event, they’ve misplaced the gold medal to America.
Coach Gregg Popovich had denied the US superstars had come to Japan with out full dedication.
‘From day one they realized that they actually needed to be right here. These guys all sacrificed … it was a tricky season, with Covid and every little thing.’
Group US confirmed nothing however coronary heart and dedication as they confirmed as soon as once more who the kings of Olympic basketball are as they ran out winners 87-82.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Jrue Vacation, who clinched the NBA title in July stated:’ Two days after we gained we needed to fly out right here, so it is undoubtedly an important summer time. However I gotta get to the purpose the place I can truly take pleasure in it.
He paid tribute to Durant and stated: ‘Beng on his workforce now has been fairly cool to see – how he carries the sport, carries his teammates and takes over a recreation.
Group mate Bam Adebayo additionally talked of the management proven by Durant.
He stated: ‘ (he’s)’Phenomenal. The factor I like about Kevin essentially the most, he is one of many best scorers in our league but in addition he is a real particular person.
‘Individuals attempt to bash him within the media however he is a type of guys that acquired your again 24/7. Being round him, being round this group of fellows, we created a brotherhood.’
Javale McGee, whose mom Pamela gained gold in 1984, added: ‘It is a tremendous feeling man. I acquired a gold medal, my mom’s acquired a gold medal.
‘You may’t actually clarify it, simply figuring out you are the perfect on this planet.
‘If that do not add to the resume, I do not know what is going to. It is a household resume. That is what it is all about, ultimately, is household.’
Quite a few Twitter customers topped Kevin Durant as ‘Captain America’ following the USA win over France within the basketball
United States’ Kevin Durant (7), proper, and Jayson Tatum (10) rejoice throughout males’s basketball gold medal recreation in opposition to France on the 2020 Summer season Olympics
Durant, who in these Video games surpassed Carmelo Anthony as the USA’ highest profession scorer, led with 29 factors within the 87-82 victory on the Saitama Tremendous Enviornment
Durant draped the American flag over his shoulders following Group USA’s victory
United States’ Damian Lillard (6), left, and France’s Moustapha Fall (93) combat for a unfastened ball throughout males’s basketball
United States’ Kevin Durant (7) chases the ball throughout males’s basketball gold medal recreation in opposition to France
United States gamers rejoice with teammates after profitable the gold medal match in opposition to France
Kevin Durant of the USA in motion with Rudy Gobert of France and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot of France
USA’s Kevin Wayne Durant (2L) seems for a play previous France’s Frank Ntilikina (2R) within the males’s remaining basketball match between France and USA
Rudy Gobert of France in motion with Khris Middleton of the USA and Kevin Durant of the USA
United States ahead Kevin Durant #7, takes a leap shot, through the Males’s Basketball finals on the Tokyo Olympic Video games
France heart Rudy Gobert #27, dunks the ball through the Males’s Basketball finals on the Tokyo Olympic Video games in Tokyo
Durant stated of his third gold: ‘This one feels good as a result of we went by way of loads. We had lots of first-time guys on the workforce, new expertise for everybody on the workforce, Covid, the form of bubble we had been in, no followers, nobody anticipating us to lose.
‘We heard it all around the previous few weeks about our workforce. To combat by way of this adversity in opposition to an important workforce like these guys … to return collectively so quick – it was stunning to see, it was stunning to be part of.’
‘I am so happy with this workforce. The teaching employees ready us so effectively each single day, even some days after we did not really feel like practising but it surely was value it on the finish. I am so glad. I am able to go dwelling and rejoice.
‘I really like our nation and this workforce is simply superb, it is simply unimaginable.
‘How we got here collectively. The adversity that we went by way of, so many individuals doubting us early on too. We get that help from our households, our pals, it is greater than us. We needed to return right here end it and look alive.’
Durant joined Carmelo Anthony as the one three-time males’s gold medalists in Olympic historical past to win the title on the Tokyo Video games – ending a summer time that began with sputters however closed with celebration.
Durant sealed it with two free throws with 8.8 seconds left, making the result educational. The lead was 5, France’s remaining possession was irrelevant, and it was over.
The U.S. gamers gathered for a hug at midcourt, Durant, Bam Adebayo and Draymond Inexperienced wrapped themselves in American flags, and the journey was full.
Jayson Tatum completed with 19 factors, Damian Lillard and Jrue Vacation every scored 11 for the U.S.
Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert every scored 16 for France, which now has 4 silver medals – all coming after gold-medal-game losses to the U.S. Guerschon Yabusele scored 13, Nando de Colo had 12 and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 11 for France.
Frank Ntilikina´s 3-pointer acquired France inside 73-70 with 5:42 left, however the U.S. had a fast reply – a 9-2 run that restored a 10-point lead on Tatum´s 3-pointer.
United States’ gamers rejoice after their win within the males’s basketball gold medal recreation in opposition to France
Jayson Tatum (C) of the US and teammates rejoice after profitable the Males’s Basketball remaining between France and USA
Kevin Durant scored 29 factors and joined Carmelo Anthony as the one three-time males´s gold medalists in Olympic historical past
From there, it was only a matter of ending the job. The summer time began with two exhibition losses, the Olympics began with a loss to France, and none of that appeared to matter a lot on the finish.
The mission was completed: Gold, once more – the sixteenth time in 19 Olympic tries for the U.S.
For some, it provides to household legacies. Jrue Vacation now could be an Olympic gold medalist, similar to his spouse Lauren was twice with the U.S. girls’s nationwide soccer workforce.
JaVale McGee now has Olympic gold, similar to his mom Pamela gained with the U.S. girls in basketball on the 1984 Los Angeles Video games.
For Milwaukee Bucks teammates Vacation and Khris Middleton, it is admission right into a uncommon membership: Prior to now, solely Scottie Pippen (who did it twice), Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving had gained an NBA title and Olympic gold in the identical yr.
Durant sealed the win with two free throws with 8.8 seconds left, making the result educational
Kevin Durant #7 of Group United States reaches for the ball in opposition to Nicolas Batum #5 of Group France through the second half of a Males’s Basketball Finals recreation on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Video games at Saitama Tremendous Enviornment
Kevin Durant #7 of Group United States goes up for a dunk in opposition to Rudy Gobert #27 of Group France
Kevin Durant of the USA is seen in motion through the France v United States recreation
Kevin Durant #7 of Group United States seems to move the ball as Frank Ntilikina #1 of Group France defends through the second half of a Males’s Basketball Finals recreation on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Video games
France’s Nicolas Batum and USA’s Kevin Wayne Durant (L) discuss after France’s defeat within the males’s remaining basketball match
And for U.S. coach Gregg Popovich, it completes an Olympic journey that began a half-century in the past. He was enjoying for the USA Air Power Academy, tried unsuccessfully to make the 1972 U.S. Olympic team- ‘the powers that be truly chosen Doug Collins as an alternative of me, it´s exhausting to consider,’ Popovich joked earlier this summer time – then accepted the duty of changing Mike Krzyzewski because the U.S. coach for this Olympic cycle.
‘Being a part of the Olympics has been a dream,’ Popovich stated.
The U.S. missed its first eight 3-point tries earlier than Durant acquired one to drop with 2:04 left within the opening quarter, beginning what grew to become a 21-8 run by the Individuals on the way in which to a 39-26 lead halfway by way of the second quarter.
France responded, closing the half on a 13-5 spurt and getting inside 44-39 on the break, then inside two early within the third quarter.
And after the U.S. briefly led by 14, Nicolas Batum – who saved his workforce with a last-second block to shut out a win over Slovenia within the semifinals – beat the third-quarter buzzer with a 3-pointer that lower the U.S. result in 71-63 getting into the fourth.
France’s Timothe Luwawu Kongbo grabs a rebound over United States’ Bam Adebayo, left, through the males’s basketball gold medal recreation
USA’s Kevin Wayne Durant carries nationwide flag whereas celebrating his workforce’s win as Devin Booker (L) watches
United States ahead Kevin Durant #7, drives to the basket round France taking pictures guard Nando de Colo #12, through the Males’s Basketball finals
United States small ahead Jayson Tatum #10, passes round France heart Rudy Gobert #27, through the Males’s Basketball
Group United States drives to the basket in opposition to Evan Fournier #10 of Group France through the second half of the sport
France’s and USA’s gamers congratulate one another after USA’s victory within the males’s remaining basketball match
Evan Fournier of France and Rudy Gobert of France look dejected after the match
