Three reasons why winning the gold again feels so good.
USA Basketball and its players, coaches and staff have to feel great about overcoming the odds to win America’s fourth straight gold medal. The team was hampered by the NBA playoffs ending later this year and some COVID issues that cost them star Bradley Beal.
Despite the USA’s mounting competition from foreign basketball powers, this is where the gold medal belongs. Only twice have we not come home winners, 1972 when a crooked clock operator gave the Russians three chances to sink the winning shot, and they finally did. And in 2004, the thrown-together and unprepared team lost to Argentina, which spurred the reorganization of USA Basketball.
Second, there seems no bigger victory for the players who achieve it. Even superstar Kevin Durant, already being called the world’s greatest player, said this was different than an NBA title or MVP award. He and Carmelo Anthony are the first to win three gold medals in men’s basketball.
The other players now know about representing some-thing way bigger than themselves or their pro teams. Nothing will ever compare to winning it for 300 million back home in a divided USA.
Three, the most pressure was on Coach Greg Popovich, who at 71 finally got his chance to coach the Olympics. He said he felt it three years ago when Mike Krzyzewski finally gave up the job after three straight Summer Games and Popovich, who has five NBA titles, knew his professional record would pale compared to a loss in Tokyo.
United States’ Kevin Durant (7), right, celebrates with head coach Gregg Popovich after their win in the men’s basketball gold medal game against France at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
USA Basketball Managing Director Jerry Colangelo said he was sweating out every minute of the five-point finals win over France, which had beaten the Americans earlier. Colangelo, who is 81, said he was stepping down before the Games began, and he didn’t want to go out with an embarrassing loss on what is still a perfect 4-0 record.
I was particularly happy we pulled it off because a lot of people would have said losing would have been because Coach K wasn’t there. Compared to the Dream Teamers he had in Beijing, Rio and London, this group had a much tougher task, and Pop deserves major props.
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