Paris Olympics: Team USA finishes greatest day of basketball ever in one arena by rolling Brazil in quarterfinals
PARIS — From breakfast with Giannis to a nightcap with LeBron, this was the pinnacle of basketball ever played in one venue.
Though Bercy Arena is typically associated with tennis and handball, it hosted an unprecedented day of Olympic basketball quarterfinals, a 13-hour spectacle of elite hoops.
Forget about high school tournaments, the Final Four, or Rucker Park; Tuesday’s event was like the first day of March Madness but with over 15,000 enthusiastic fans for each game. The world’s top players showcased their skills, without the interruption of television timeouts, in games that lasted about two hours each.
Germany defeated Greece in a match starting at 11 a.m. local time. Serbia then overcame Australia in overtime, France edged out Canada in front of a fervent home crowd, and the U.S. ended the day by defeating Brazil, 122-87.
For the U.S., led by Devin Booker’s 18 points, it was a relatively easy game. The Americans dominated with their depth and talent, avoiding the slow starts that had troubled them before. The only hiccup was LeBron James receiving four stitches after an inadvertent elbow above the eye. However, the team seems to be peaking at the right time as they chase a fifth consecutive gold medal.
Thursday’s semifinals will feature Germany vs. France and Team USA vs. Serbia, promising even more excitement.
When 15-year NBA veteran Patty Mills sank a fallaway jumper over three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić to push the Australia-Serbia game into overtime, the arena erupted in celebration. This was basketball heaven.
Tuesday saw 14 NBA All-Stars, including six players who have won 13 of the last 16 NBA MVP awards — LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, and Joel Embiid. Rising star Victor Wembanyama also took the court.
Each player competed as if it were a Game 7. The knockout round format meant that national pride and potential medals were on the line, resulting in intense physical play and dazzling displays of skill.
The passion of the games was matched by the enthusiasm of the fans, who responded to the intensity demanded by the Olympic rings.
“I feel exhausted, honestly,” said Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanović, a seven-year NBA veteran.
“The best basketball players in the world,” said Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s NBA MVP runner-up. “It’s a very hard tournament, if not the hardest.”
Each game drew a fresh, energetic crowd. French fans were particularly spirited, while chants of “USA, USA” and “BRA-zil” echoed during the U.S. game. Serbian fans, known for their fervor, added to the electrifying atmosphere.
“We are a passionate country,” said Vasilije Micić. “Passionate people.”
When the Summer Olympics come to Los Angeles in 2028, Olympic basketball will undoubtedly be a hot ticket.
David Stern, the architect of the 1992 Dream Team, envisioned inspiring global basketball competition, and 32 years later, his dream has come to fruition.
The U.S. remains the favorite for another Olympic gold, but the competition is fierce and varied. No longer is the main event simply a game against the Americans; intense drama and rivalries now exist between many teams. Each game’s significance is palpable, making every match elite.
The Canada-France game felt like it was played in Cameron Indoor or Old Trafford, with a spirited French crowd supporting their team with drums, songs, and chants.
NBA stars were everywhere, but contributions from EuroLeague and Australian Basketball League players often made the difference. Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert were notable, though Wembanyama scored only seven points and Gobert was sidelined with a finger injury.
Nevertheless, when the French deployed 6-9, 256-pound Mathias Lessort and 6-8, 271-pound Guerschon Yabusele, the Canadians struggled to keep up, all while the French fans roared with delight.
If the U.S. faces France in the gold-medal final, it will essentially be a road game for the Americans.
“We home,” declared France’s Frank Ntilikina. “We home.”
The Olympics have proven that basketball can thrive as a global competition, offering a unique environment where future Hall of Famers fight for every loose ball, MVPs battle for rebounds, and unlikely heroes make game-winning plays.
Olympic basketball has arrived in full force, marked by the greatest day of hoops ever played. The excitement will surely continue in Los Angeles.
