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Steph Curry’s Clutch Performance Secures Team USA’s Fifth Straight Gold Medal
Aug
PARIS – The Sequence Was Pure Steph Curry
With France inching closer to a comeback in the final minutes of the men’s basketball gold-medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Steph Curry delivered a shooting clinic that sealed Team USA’s fifth consecutive gold medal. Scoring a team-high 24 points—all from beyond the arc—Curry’s four 3-pointers in the last 2:47 of the game were nothing short of spectacular, each one seemingly more critical than the last.
The defining moment came with just 35 seconds left on the clock. Under intense pressure from France’s Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier, Curry launched a deep, high-arcing 3-pointer that pushed the U.S. lead to 96-87. As he ran back down the court, Curry performed his signature “good night” gesture, signaling the game’s end and adding yet another iconic shot to his already legendary career highlights.
“I impressed myself on that one,” Curry admitted post-game. U.S. coach Steve Kerr, who has witnessed countless Curry heroics during their time together with the Golden State Warriors, called it “pretty amazing to watch.”
Curry’s Comeback Performance
Curry’s Olympic journey in Paris wasn’t without its challenges. In the first four games, he struggled to find his rhythm, shooting just 35.7% from the field and a meager 25% from 3-point range. But in the semifinals against Serbia, Curry rediscovered his shooting touch, scoring 36 points and hitting 9-of-14 from deep, helping the U.S. erase a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Against France, Curry’s hot streak continued as he drained 8-of-12 from beyond the arc. In the final two games of his first Olympics, Curry scored 60 points and made 17 of his 26 3-point attempts, cementing his place as one of the greatest shooters the game has ever seen.
“The first four games I had decent looks. They weren’t falling, but they were in the rhythm of the offense,” Curry said. “Coach reminded me at a certain point early that the game will come if you allow it. Even if I was missing shots, just stay engaged, and that fed into being locked in for these last two games.”
A Golden Moment in a Hall of Fame Career
For Curry, this Olympic gold medal fills one of the few remaining gaps in an already illustrious Hall of Fame career. He has won NBA titles, regular-season MVPs, and a Finals MVP, but until now, an Olympic gold had eluded him. When LeBron James began rallying players for the 2024 Olympics, Curry was eager to join.
“It wasn’t as much about checking a box as it was the experience,” Curry reflected. “I’m smiling, having the best time of my life because this might not come around again. So very, very special. Just trying to take it all in.”
In the closing moments of the gold-medal game, Curry even suggested a side pick-and-roll with LeBron James, a play that Kerr agreed to run. The result? Another clutch performance by Curry, who once again showed why he thrives in the most pressure-packed moments.
“You just stay confident, stay present, and don’t get rattled by the moment,” Curry said. And if there’s one thing Steph Curry has proven time and again, it’s that he is never a stranger to the moment.
