Olympics | Basketball Roundup: U.S. dominates, France surprises at Paris 2024

PARIS, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States continued its dominance in Olympic basketball, securing both the men's and women's gold medals at the Paris Olympics, while hosts France earned two silvers, marking their best-ever performance in Olympic basketball.

The U.S. women's team clinched their eighth consecutive Olympic gold, extending their undefeated streak to a remarkable 60-0 since the 1996 Atlanta Games. This victory also marks the U.S. women's 10th gold medal in the last 11 Olympics, with their only non-gold finish being a bronze in 1992 in Barcelona.

In Paris, they averaged a 33-point winning margin per game before narrowly defeating France 67-66 in the final.

Led by a new generation of stars including A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Jackie Young, all under 30, the U.S. women's team is transitioning from veteran leaders like Diana Taurasi. Notably, Taurasi, now 42, secured her sixth Olympic gold, continuing her Olympic journey that began in Athens in 2004.

On the men's side, despite concerns about an aging roster, the U.S. team lived up to expectations, capturing their fifth consecutive Olympic gold. Although not labeled as a "Dream Team" anymore, veterans like LeBron James, 39, Stephen Curry, 36, and Kevin Durant, 35, played crucial roles.

The trio contributed 40.5 percent of the team's total points and led the squad in minutes played. Durant's clutch jumper against Serbia in the semifinal and Curry's 24-point performance, including four critical 3-pointers in the final against France, were key to their success.

Host France celebrated its best Olympic basketball results ever, earning silver in both the men's and women's competitions.

The French men's team, despite losing to world champions Germany in the group stage, avenged that defeat in the semifinal to set up a repeat of the Tokyo 2020 final against the U.S..

The French women also fought valiantly, narrowly losing 67-66 to the U.S. in the final, nearly pulling off a historic victory.

Germany's men's team finished fourth after falling to Serbia 93-83 in the bronze medal match, but with star players like Dennis Schroder and the Wagner brothers, they remain strong contenders for future titles.

South Sudan, participating in their first Olympics, impressed by finishing ninth, showcasing their love for basketball and the talent of their young players with a victory over Puerto Rico and competitive games against the U.S. and Serbia.

Even Japan's men's team earned respect, pushing France to overtime before narrowly losing 94-90, a significant achievement for Asian basketball.

In contrast, China's women's team had a disappointing campaign, failing to advance to the quarterfinals with just one win and two losses, a far cry from their runner-up finish at the World Cup.