Stephen Curry had France and Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Rudy Gobert searching for answers in the final minutes. The moment when greatness meets greatness, it rarely ends quietly, and Paris 2024 was no different. When Team USA needed their closer, Curry delivered the performance that turned competitors into admirers and transformed Olympic finals into legendary moments.
Curry’s stellar effort saw Team USA extend its dominance in the marquee event. Suiting up for his first-ever Olympics, the Golden State Warriors superstar delivered when it mattered most, drilling four of his eight 3-pointers in the final minutes to crush France’s comeback hopes. The four-time NBA champion’s clutch performance helped Team USA clinch gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 98-87 victory.
Why is Rudy Gobert ‘Grateful’ to Witness Stephen Curry’s Greatness?
Speaking on ‘The Young Man and The Three’ podcast, Gobert was asked about France’s Olympic basketball campaign at home. He relived the gold medal showdown against Team USA and focused on Curry’s performance in a way that showed true respect for the game.
“The competitor in you is frustrated in the moment, but very quickly, you can only be grateful to witness such Greatness.”
The numbers tell the story of Team USA’s balanced attack. Curry finished with 24 points overall, while Kevin Durant and Devin Booker recorded 15 points each. LeBron James contributed 14 points to help Team USA secure the 98-87 victory. Meanwhile, Gobert managed just 12 minutes for two points, three rebounds, one assist, and two steals. It was a forgettable outing for the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
France battled hard despite falling short. Victor Wembanyama led the way with 26 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Guerschon Yabusele chipped in with 20 points, giving France a fighting chance until Curry’s late-game heroics took over.
Speaking after the game, Curry described his clutch shooting display with typical calm. “I was just trying to settle us down. All we wanted to do was get a good shot. It had been a while since we had good possession,” he said, per Olympics.com.
“[Finally] the momentum was on our side. At that point, your mind goes blank. You don’t really care about the setting or the scenario or anything. It’s just a shot.”
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 NBA season, both Gobert and Minnesota are still chasing their first title after reaching the Conference Finals last season, where they fell 4-1 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The playoff picture could get interesting if both teams make deep runs. While Curry dominated the gold medal game, the Golden State Warriors won the 2024-25 regular season series against the Timberwolves 3-1.
The upcoming season will see Curry aim for his fifth NBA title with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green in the mix. The Warriors will hope that the Curry-Butler partnership ends with another championship banner. Only time will tell if there’s a Conference Finals showdown between these two teams this season.
