Men’s final: a dunk heard around the world, a devil named Curry
First up was the men’s final on Saturday, 10 August—Day 15 of Paris 2024.
Space was at a premium inside Bercy Arena, with the 15,609-capacity venue filled to the rafters and brimming with anticipation. The atmosphere was electric, amplified by the host nation reaching this stage of the competition—something not seen in the men’s tournament since the USA won gold on home soil at Atlanta 1996. The French tricolour waved proudly from every corner of the stands, and a thunderous rendition of La Marseillaise echoed through the arena as tip-off approached.
The script was balanced through the first half. Victor Wembanyama, who had just completed his rookie season in the NBA, winning the Rookie of the Year award in the process, asserted himself early, tallying 7 points in the opening quarter and keeping France within striking distance. Team USA held a modest lead at the end of the period, buoyed by balanced scoring from Devin Booker and LeBron James.
The second quarter brought France’s biggest surge. They briefly seized the lead on an 8–0 run, before the USA regained control. But the defining moment came shortly afterwards. With just over two minutes left in the half, Guerschon Yabusele faked a handoff and drove baseline, streaking towards an undefended basket. Sensing the danger, James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, four-time champion, and global basketball icon, stepped across to intercept the thundering Frenchman and take a charge. But he got there too late, and was powerless to stop Yabusele exploding over the top of him for a rim-rocking, and-one dunk that sent the Bercy Arena into chaos.